ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) SAIF visited Jeddah, Kingdom of SaudiArabia during first Regional Maritime Security Patrol (RMSP) deploymentinstituted recently by the Pakistan Navy.
According to a press release issued by Pakistan Navy it has deployed itsfirst ever navy ship in Gulf of Aden Southern Red Sea Region.
The objective of RMSP is to maintain a presence along critical choke pointsand maritime areas to fulfill international obligations for maritimesecurity and safeguard national shipping while observing freedom ofnavigation across high seas.
PNS SAIF is the front line destroyer of Pakistan Navy Fleet and is the 3rdShip of sword class frigate, fitted with state of the art robust weaponsand sensors.
The ship is capable to undertake all types of maritime operations in amulti-threat environment. PNS SAIF is also embarked with organicAnti-Submarine Warfare helicopter Z9-EC.
During a stay at port, Commanding Officer of PNS SAIF Captain Shahid WasifPN called on senior Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) Officials, includingRear Admiral Hamid Bin Bakhit Aljahni, RSNF Western Fleet Commander, andother Senior Military Officials.
During the meeting, Commanding Officer PNS SAIF conveyed well wishes fromChief of the Naval, Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi to the people ofSaudi Arabia in general and RSNF personnel in particular.
During four days stay at Jeddah, Ship’s crew visited different RSNFtraining facilities. Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Pakistan ViceAdmiral (R) Khan Hasham Bin Saddique visited onboard and interacted withship’s crew. A reception dinner was also hosted onboard in the honor ofdiplomats and officials from RSNF.
PNS SAIF is the first ship deployed under the Pakistan Navy’s RMSPinitiative in the Gulf of Aden and Southern Red Sea regions. RegionalMaritime Security Patrols has been instituted, in line with the UNResolutions and UN Convention on Law of the Sea for protection of nationaland international shipping against the threats of maritime terrorism,piracy, narco-arms smuggling and human trafficking.
Pakistan Navy has remained forthcoming and committed in the fight againstterrorism and piracy in the face of heavy odds, and through RegionalMaritime Security Patrols, Pakistan Navy would indeed help to ensure safemaritime environment in the region besides projecting Pakistan’s good imagein international community and provide recognition as one of the modern andprogressive nations of the world.