Royal New Zealand Navy Frigate Completes UN Sanctions Monitoring Patrols

A Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Task Group has bolstered
enforcement of United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
sanctions against North Korea, as vessels of interest were
monitored during maritime patrols on international waters in
the Yellow Sea and East China Sea.

Making up the task
group was the Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Mana and the
sustainment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa, a key enabler to support
long-range maritime operations. The Task Group is on a
three-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific region conducting
a series of activities, engagements, exercises and
operations.

This is the first time Te Mana has
deployed in support of UNSC sanctions monitoring. Aotearoa
was also in the area and conducted six replenishments at sea
for Te Mana and partner nations’ vessels during
patrols.

During Te Mana’s UNSC sanctions
enforcement, about 180,000 square nautical miles was
covered, seven vessels of interest monitored and 60
deterrence messages were broadcast via maritime
radio.

Extending
the reach of the task group were two SH-2G(I) Seasprite
helicopters, one embarked on each ship, enabling vessels to
be detected over the horizon and beyond the monitoring range
of ships alone.

Maritime enforcement patrols report
vessels suspected of trafficking refined petroleum to North
Korea and exporting commodities such as coal, iron ore and
sand used to fund North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic
missile production.

To
bypass UNSC sanctions, North Korea uses a shadow fleet and
deceptive ship-to-ship transfers. Deception tactics used
include vessels turning off automatic Identification
systems, spoof signals, vessel identity laundering such as
removing flags and painting over vessel names, and draft
alteration where crews manipulate cargo to pretend a ship is
heavily loaded or empty.

Maritime Component Commander,
Commodore Shane Arndell, said Te Mana’s first deployment
to UNSC monitoring was a further demonstration of the
frigate’s capabilities to undertake a range of tasks from
sanctions enforcement to warfighting when
required.

Deploying Aotearoa had enabled the frigate
to remain at sea for longer during operational
patrols.

“The combined effects of the two ships
operating as a task group and providing regional support
with like-minded partners shows the value of training,
preparation and interoperability, and demonstrates how
collectively we work together to achieve common goals,”
Commodore Arndell said.

All activities by the task
group were conducted in accordance with international law,
particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea.

The New Zealand Defence Force has been
contributing to international efforts to monitor and report
sanctions evasions by North Korea, including with maritime
patrols by air and sea, since 2018.

“Following the
successful contributions made by Aotearoa and the Royal New
Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon in previous years, Te
Mana’s involvement in the mission has given us the
opportunity to utilise the various sensors, systems and
capabilities that enhance maritime domain awareness and
genuinely support regional security,” said Commander Tuijo
Thompson, Commanding Officer of Te Mana.

“With
Aotearoa providing sustainment support to Te Mana and other
partner navies in the region, sailors and officers of the
RNZN Task Group have enjoyed the opportunity to put into
practice what we have trained to do, including as recently
as during Exercise RIMPAC as well as throughout each
individual’s naval career.

“I am proud of what Te
Mana and Aotearoa have achieved and New Zealand should be
too,” he said.

New Zealand is a member of the
Pacific Security Maritime Exchange, which is a partnership
of nations working together to detect evasions of UN
sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea’s nuclear and
ballistic missile
programmes.

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