MISC Merchant Ships Safe From Somali Pirate Attacks

LUMUT (Perak, Malaysia), April 21 (Bernama) -- The continued implementation of 'Operation Fajar' will ensure Malaysian International Shipping Corporation (MISC) ships are safe from Somali pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden. 'Operation Fajar' is a naval operation carried out by the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) against Somali pirates in the gulf. The assurance of protection from the pirates comes from RMN chief Admiral Abdul Aziz Jaafar who said the navy's duty was to ensure security of merchant ships which contributed to the national economy. "The operation will be ongoing as it is in the national interest to ensure merchant ships arrive at their destinations safely. "The threat by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden is still rampant, despite enforcement measures," he said on Friday, after completing the release of the Bunga Mas 5 (BM5) ship under 'Mission Operation Fajar 14/2012' to accompany national merchant ships in the waters off the gulf. BM5 was headed by Commander Tajudin Abd Rahman while the 61 crew comprised Armed Forces personnel and MISC volunteers. Abdul Aziz said the waters required two ships because the scope of operation also covered the waters of India, patrolled by MISC's second ship, BM6. "We need two ships because the threat there is very wide. The merchant ships are safe when accompanied by two ships," he said. He said, following the rampant threat of Somalian pirates, the presence of the assets of the Malaysian Armed Forces in the waters needed to be continued. The media also witnessed the Golden Dragon Exercise on BM5 by RMN and MISC involving the Marine Special Force, Super Lynx aircraft from 501 squadron and the Fennec aircraft from squadron 502. -- BERNAMA