Operation SEA SPIRIT, a focused counter-piracy initiative under the command of Pakistan-led Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151), commenced on April 21, 2025, aiming to enhance maritime security across the Gulf of Aden, Somali coast, and the Socotra Gap. The multinational operation is supported by a coordinated deployment of Maritime Patrol Aircraft and helicopters, tasked with deterring piracy and armed robbery at sea.
The operation features robust participation from key international and regional naval forces, including the Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, Republic of Korea Navy, Spanish Navy under EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA, Djibouti Navy and Coast Guard, and Türkiye Naval Forces. These joint operational activities include coordinated patrols and counter-piracy exercises designed to improve interoperability and ensure safe passage for maritime traffic through high-risk waters.
In parallel, several Regional Maritime Coordination Centers are playing a pivotal role in operational support. These include CMF JMIC, JMICC Pakistan, Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCOC) Kenya, Regional Coordination and Operations Centre (RCOC) Seychelles, RMIFC Madagascar, UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Dubai, and private maritime security partner Ambrey Global Operations Centre (GOC). Their collective efforts involve real-time information sharing with the maritime industry and naval stakeholders to enhance situational awareness and tactical response.
Additionally, the Maritime Security Center Oman and the Maritime Security Center Indian Ocean are contributing to the mission by facilitating strategic communication and sharing vital intelligence with operational forces.
The launch of Operation SEA SPIRIT underscores the Pakistan Navy’s leadership role in promoting collaborative maritime security frameworks and its ongoing commitment to safeguarding international shipping routes against asymmetric threats in one of the world’s most vulnerable maritime corridors.
