ID :
140594
Fri, 09/03/2010 - 21:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/140594
The shortlink copeid
Thai naval unit to join international anti-Somali piracy force
BANGKOK, Sept 3 -- The Royal Thai Navy will send 350 Thai navy personnel to join the international naval force combating piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia, on September 10.
Admiral Supakorn Buranadilok, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy Fleet, told a press conference that 350 Navy personnel would be sent to join the mission which will coordinate with a joint naval force of the United States.
The main duty of the 98-day operation is to protect Thai cargo ships and fishing vessels in those waters, he said, adding that 28 countries had jointly operated the anti-piracy mission there.
The Thai ships joining the operation are HMS Similan and HMS Pattani with two helicopters and two units from the Naval Special Warfare Group, he said.
The Thai Cabinet resolved to join the international mission with a Bt270 million (US$7.7 million) budget allocated.
The ships will sail from Sattahip Naval Base in Chonburi on September 10 bound for Singapore, Columbo in Sri Lanka and Salalah of Oman with an approximate 4,894 miles route.
The Gulf of Aden is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen and Somalia, connecting with the Red Sea and is part of the important Suez Canal shipping route with some 21,000 ships passing through annually.
Increasing piracy and armed robbery in the area has caused economic problems to many countries, especially those whose economies depend on maritime commerce.
Several Thai vessels have been hijacked by Somali pirates, including three fishing boats with a total of 77 crew members aboard who were seized in April. (MCOT online news)
Admiral Supakorn Buranadilok, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy Fleet, told a press conference that 350 Navy personnel would be sent to join the mission which will coordinate with a joint naval force of the United States.
The main duty of the 98-day operation is to protect Thai cargo ships and fishing vessels in those waters, he said, adding that 28 countries had jointly operated the anti-piracy mission there.
The Thai ships joining the operation are HMS Similan and HMS Pattani with two helicopters and two units from the Naval Special Warfare Group, he said.
The Thai Cabinet resolved to join the international mission with a Bt270 million (US$7.7 million) budget allocated.
The ships will sail from Sattahip Naval Base in Chonburi on September 10 bound for Singapore, Columbo in Sri Lanka and Salalah of Oman with an approximate 4,894 miles route.
The Gulf of Aden is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen and Somalia, connecting with the Red Sea and is part of the important Suez Canal shipping route with some 21,000 ships passing through annually.
Increasing piracy and armed robbery in the area has caused economic problems to many countries, especially those whose economies depend on maritime commerce.
Several Thai vessels have been hijacked by Somali pirates, including three fishing boats with a total of 77 crew members aboard who were seized in April. (MCOT online news)
