Frigate Deployed for Anti-Piracy Exercise in Gulf of Aden

New Zealand will become the second non-member state to join a NATO anti-piracy exercise in the Gulf of Aden, with navy frigate HMNZS Te Mana participating in Operation Ocean Shield for three weeks from 23 January.

Participating in Operation Ocean Shield was a good opportunity for the New Zealand Defence Force to test its interoperability with contributing NATO nations Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman said.

“This deployment is an example of New Zealand’s commitment to playing our part in supporting NATO in areas of common interest,” Coleman said.

New Zealand was the second NATO partner nation, after Ukraine, to contribute to Ocean Shield he said.

Original article by Xinhua, January 22, 2014.

Photo by NZ Defence Force.