Members of a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team from the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) and U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 409 respond to a Yemeni dhow that had been drifting at sea for two days due to engine problems. Gettysburg is part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, a multinational task force established to conduct counter-piracy operations under a mission-based mandate throughout the CMF area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Eric L. Beauregard/Released)By Lt. John Fage, Combined Task Force 151 Public Affairs
USS GETTYSBURG, At Sea (NNS) -- Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 and its flagship, the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG-64), helped keep the sea lines of communication open and waterways clear of criminal activity when they boarded a suspect skiff June 2.
At approximately 11 a.m., members of the Gettysburg's visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team and the U.S. Coast Guard's Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) 91112 inspected a small dhow and its accompanying skiff after it was spotted by a helicopter assigned to Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 46, Detachment 9 while patrolling the Gulf of Aden.
Gettysburg's boarding team found no suspicious materials or pirate paraphernalia aboard the dhow but used the opportunity to speak with the dhow's passengers, letting them know that coalition warships are patrolling the area to keep them safe and out of harm's way.
"Our job as Sailors, no matter what country we are from or what mission we are assigned to, is to protect all people at sea," said Turkish Rear Adm. Caner Bener, commander, CTF 151. "It is our duty and our privilege to keep the world's waterways safe for all those who travel on the sea."
CTF 151 is a Turkish-led multinational task force established to conduct counterpiracy operations under a mission-based mandate throughout the Combined Maritime Forces Area of Responsibility to actively deter, disrupt and suppress piracy in order to protect global maritime security and secure freedom of navigation for the benefit of all nations.