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HMS Campbeltown Visits Safaga, Egypt

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070124-09
Release Date: 1/24/2007 3:26:00 PM

By Royal Navy Lt. Cmdr. Bill Booth, Combined Task Force 150 Public Affairs

SAFAGA, Egypt (NNS) -- Royal Navy Frigate HMS Campbeltown, operating as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, visited Safaga, Egypt, Jan. 17-19.

During the port call, Campbeltown conducted a number of cultural, sporting and social events.

“Campbeltown is here because we are building relationships. We want to take the opportunity to discuss regional subjects with the Egyptian Coast Guard, military and key Red Sea ambassadors,” said Royal Navy Capt. Rupert Wallace, Campbeltown commanding officer. “We will be visiting the Egyptian naval ship Mubarak and the coast guard, and we are looking forward to welcoming their crew aboard the Campbeltown.”

This was Campbeltown’s first port visit since transiting through the Suez Canal. The ship will spend the next two months conducting maritime security operations (MSO) as part of CTF 150, currently commanded by Royal Navy Commodore Bruce Williams. CTF 150 is the maritime force that conducts MSO in the Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

“As a thoroughfare of the world, the Red Sea is clearly a critical part of the CTF 150 area of responsibility,” said Williams. “The coalition places great importance on our relationship with our regional friends such as Egypt, and indeed we look forward to the further development of the already warm links between the coalition and coastal nations of the Red Sea.”

While in Safaga, the crew had many events to attend. Williams hosted a lunch on board for local dignitaries, and held an official reception. The crew participated in golf, football and squash matches.

MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well complement the counter-terrorism and security effort of regional nations. These operations deter illegal use of the maritime environment as a venue to attack or to transport personnel, weapons and other material. MSO include a full range of activities from assisting mariners in distress, to visit, board, search and seizure operations, to engaging regional and coalition navies.

CTF 150 comprises ships from a number of coalition nations, including Canada, Germany, Pakistan, United Kingdom and the United States.