Mission/Mandate
Operation Ocean Shield (OOS), NATO's contribution to international efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa, commenced 17 August 2009 after the North Atlantic Council (NAC) approved the mission with reference to the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1816, 1846 and 1851.
Building on previous counter-piracy missions conducted by NATO (Operation Allied Provider in 2008 and Operation Allied Protector until mid August 2009), Operation Ocean Shield focuses on at-sea counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden (GOA) and off the Horn of Africa.
History/Progress
Nations became increasingly concerned about the growing incidence of piracy in the Gulf of Aden during 2008 and began to step up efforts to counter the problem. In that year, the North Atlantic Council approved the first NATO anti piracy mission, Op Allied Provider, mainly to protect World Food Program ships delivering aid to Somalia. During 2009, perhaps in response to international efforts the pirates expanded their area of operations and increased attacks in the Somali Basin. As a result, although the number of attacks in the Gulf of Aden reduced and attacks overall had a much lower chance of success, the total number hijackings rose slightly. The situation remains unpredictable and increased patrolling of the Internationally Recognized Transit Corridor (IRTC), better coordination by the various maritime actors through the monthly SHADE*-meetings and more rigorous application of self-protection measures by the maritime industry will continue to be implemented .
The Alliance has responded to UN Security Council decisions and broadened its approach to combating piracy by offering, to regional states that request it, assistance in developing their own capabilities (e.g. local coast guard) where they contribute to combating piracy. This is consistent with existing international efforts as coordinated with the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia.
*SHADE: Monthly meetings of the SHADE (Shared Awareness and Deconfliction)group, held in Bahrain, provide a platform for coordination of activities between the maritime industry and NATO (Operation Ocean Shield - TF 508), EU (Operation ATALANTA – TF 465), the US-led Coalition Maritime Force (CMF - TF-151), and individual nations with maritime assets in the region, which have included Australia, Bahrain, China, Egypt, India, Jordan, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine and Yemen.