Thursday, April 12, 2012

USS Porter Enters Gulf of Aden, Joins CTF 151

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alex R. Forster, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

GULF OF ADEN (NNS) -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) arrived in the Gulf of Aden, April 8, to join with Combined Maritime Forces, Combined Task Force (CTF) 151.

CTF 151, a multi-national, mission-based task force based in Bahrain, conducts counter-piracy operations in the Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean.

"This is important work out here," said Cmdr. Martin F. Arriola, USS Porter commanding officer. "The nature of our potential missions here requires Porter to be ready at all times."

Porter will collaborate with the other ships operating under CTF 151 to disrupt and prevent piracy along the shipping lanes, enhancing security and stability in the region.