ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy has handed over the Command of multinational Combined Task Force 151- Counter Piracy Task Force (CTF) to Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (MSDF) atan impressive Change of Command Ceremony held at Combined Maritime Forces HQs Bahrain.
According to Pakistan Navy press release here on Friday, Commodore Muhammad Shuaib of Pakistan Navy handed over the Command to Rear Admiral, Cheng Kwok Chien of Japanese Navy.
The ceremony was presided by Commander Combined Maritime Forces, Vice Admiral Kevin Michael Donegan of United States Navy.
Pakistani Ambassador to Bahrain, Javed Malik and several high-ranking civilian and military officials from coalition countries also were present.
At the outset of the ceremony, Commodore Muhammad Shuaib, outgoing CCTF-151 presented resume of CTF-151’s recent accomplishments in which he applauded the wholehearted support and cooperation of coalition partners, which enabled him to discharge his duties in professional manner.
He also lauded his staff included officers from Turkey, Japan and CMF HQ and thanked the navies of Japan, Korea and Turkey for contributing ships and aircraft to the Task Force during the Pakistan Navy Command tenure.
The relinquishing Commander further added that regional and global maritime security situation remains in flux and is challenging.
In this situation, the importance of maritime security regimes, which promote collaboration and cooperation at sea amongst navies cannot be over emphasized.APP