The exercise, dubbed Lucky Mariner 14-1, lasts until Saturday 02 November, reported the Gulf Daily News.
Members from Naval Co-operation and Guidance for Shipping and US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) as well as commercial shipping industry representatives are taking part.
“The Fifth Fleet, Naval Forces Central Command operates in the most strategically significant part of our planet,” said Vice Admiral John Miller, Commander of NAVCENT, US Fifth Fleet, Combined Maritime Forces.
“The global economy rests on the free movement of maritime traffic through three critical chokepoints that reside in this theatre - the Suez Canal, the Strait of Bab Al Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz."
“Security of the maritime means security for the entire region – that starts here, with us,” he said.
The exercise will focus on the threat of waterborne attack to shipping, and includes a variety of conferences to discuss how to best ensure safety and stability of the seas for international commercial traffic. There is also an at-sea phase followed by a lessons learned conference in order to improve Best Management Practices (BMP).
“Lucky Mariner affords Coalition Forces a chance to work with and learn from many entities, be it other military organizations or the commercial shipping industry,” said Capt. Joseph Naman, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 50 and Commander, Task Force 55.
“Every time we exercise, we learn about how we can support one another. This will allow us to seamlessly integrate should a crisis situation occur,” Naman added.
NAVCENT is responsible for approximately 2.5 million square miles of area including the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea. NAVCENT's mission is to conduct maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts, and strengthen partner nations' maritime capabilities in order to promote security and stability in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR.
Source: Gulf Daily News
