Operation Atalanta’s force commander, Commodore Luyckx, welcomed the Japanese commander, Captain Minami, on board of Dutch flagship, HNLMS Tromp off the coast of Somalia on November 21.
The Japanese escort task group (CCD4) is part of the Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151). CTF151 focuses on the disruption of piracy and armed robbery at sea and is one of Operation Atalanta’s key counter-piracy partners in the waters of Somalia.
During the meeting both parties discussed the importance of cooperation to ensure Somali-based piracy remains suppressed. In what was their third meeting, the commanders also took the opportunity to say farewell as HNLMS Tromp’s deployment with Operation Atalanta will come to an end on December 6.
After the meeting both ships continued with their counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia.