Kiwi to fly over anti-piracy force

A black pennant emblazoned with a white kiwi will be hoisted in the Gulf of Aden this month as a New Zealand naval officer takes control of a US-led task force fighting Middle East piracy.

Captain Jim Gilmour's appointment as head of Combined Task Force 151 marks the first time a New Zealand officer has led such an international force in decades, possibly since World War 2.

Capt Gilmour said he would take the black pennant when he left New Zealand for a familiarisation period, before taking control of the task force for three months.

Capt Gilmour, commanding officer on multi-role ship HMNZS Canterbury for exercises in the Pacific with the American navy last month, said he would not have command of a ship.

He would be on the flagship USS Anzio - an American guided missile cruiser - and in control of a task force of up to six ships, as well as aircraft.

The mission was to "disrupt and deter piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali basin", he said.

"That's a little over 1.1 million square miles so it's a lot of ground to cover. It's a co-ordinated approach to deterring and disrupting piracy with two other task forces, so it's about being smart where you put assets and how you employ them."

Piracy was on the rise off the coast of Somalia because of the almost non-existent social structure and government in that country, he said.

"There are lots of these bandits who are attempting to make a living out of acts of piracy, seizing ships as they come through what is a very important sea lane in terms of commerce."

The gulf was known as "Pirate Alley" because of the high level of piracy in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

Capt Gilmour said it was common knowledge that the pirates had rocket propelled grenades and AK47 assault rifles.

He would not talk about the intelligence they had on other weapons systems the pirates may have.

The task force would operate in the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia, with between four and six warships.

- NZPA