Jan 19 (Reuters) - Foreign navies have foiled a string of pirate attacks off Somalia this year, raising hopes that the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean shipping lanes can be made safer.Around 20 warships from 14 different countries are patrolling the area, their exact numbers and location unknown for security reasons.
COMBINED TASK FORCE 151
* The U.S. Navy on Jan. 8 announced a new task force specifically dedicated to combating piracy in the region. The San Antonio, an amphibious transport dock, serves as the command-and-control ship with two aircraft and two other U.S. Navy ships. More than 20 nations are part of the Combined Maritime Forces. U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Terence "Terry" McKnight has been named the commander of the new task force which will be fully operational by the middle of January.
EUROPEAN UNION
* The EU deployed an air and naval force off Somalia from December, replacing NATO ships. Up to ten EU nations are participating, including Greece, France, Germany and Britain in the first phase from December to March. The German frigate FDS Karlsruhe fought off a pirate attack in the Gulf in late December.
CHINA
* Three Chinese warships arrived in the area in January in the first such naval deployment by Beijing outside its waters.
INDIA
India deployed INS Tabar in October to escort Indian ships. According to the Indian navy, the Tabar came under fire from a suspected pirate mother ship on Nov. 18, returned fire and sank the pirates.
MALAYISA
A Malaysian warship sent a helicopter to help scare away Somali pirates trying to attack an Indian vessel in the Gulf of Aden on Jan. 1.
RUSSIA
Russia's navy sent a Baltic Fleet frigate, the Neustrashimy (Fearless), to the Gulf of Aden in September to combat pirates. Russian forces helped foil an attempted hijacking of a Dutch-registered cargo ship laast week.more..http://alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LJ554674.htm
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