The Royal Danish Navy is preparing to send its flagship HDMS Absalon to lead the Combined Task Force 150’s (CTF 150) second mission in pirated waters off the coast of Somalia early in 2010.

During the first operational test completed in April 2009 HDMS Absalon-led CTF 150 operated in the Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Facilities aboard the HDMS Absalon include tactical sealift, logistic support, maritime force command, and control and maritime fire support.

Danish Navy Commodore Per Bigum Christensen said prior to the first deployment the ship was equipped with theatre-specific enhancement packages, additional communications and electro-optic sensors.

The ship features two containers with staff facilities on the flex deck and two 11m rigid hull inflatable boats and a 12-man frogman team, he said.

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In addition, Absalon includes weapons system, extensive sensor suite, vital communications facilities and a cooling system.

The 137.6m-long and 19.5m-wide Absalon Class command and support ship has a displacement of 6,300t, an operational range of 9,000nm and can cruise at a maximum speed of 23kt.