( CNN ) -- The U.S. Navy has started a force to battle pirates attacking ships in and near the Gulf of Aden off Somalia 's coast , the U.S. Fifth Fleet said Thursday . A U.S. Navy photo shows a ship held by pirates off the coast of Somalia in November . The unit -- called Combined Task Force 151 -- is a spinoff of an existing force in the region that addressed a range of security issues , such as drug smuggling and weapons trafficking , as well as piracy . The Gulf of Aden links the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea . About 20,000 oil tankers , freighters and merchant vessels pass along the crucial shipping route each year near largely lawless Somalia . The United States is among at least 20 countries that are trying to combat piracy in the region , including Russia , India , Germany and Iran . In December , German sailors foiled an attempt by pirates to hijack an Egyptian cargo ship off the coast of Yemen , according to the German Defense Ministry , and the European Union launched its first naval operation to protect vessels . That came just days after China revealed its own plans to patrol the Horn of Africa 's volatile coastline . Task Force 151 will be devoted solely to counterpiracy efforts , said Lt. Stephanie Murdock , a Fifth Fleet spokeswoman . The United States anticipates other nations joining the force `` in the near future . '' `` The problem of piracy is and continues to be a problem that begins ashore and is an international problem that requires an international solution , '' Vice Adm. Bill Gortney , commander of the Combined Maritime Forces , said in a news release from the Fifth Fleet in Manama , Bahrain . `` We believe the establishment of CTF-151 is a significant step in the right direction . '' The financial and human costs of piracy are extensive . Ships ranging from luxury yachts to a Saudi supertanker have been held for ransom . At least one major company pulled its ships from the Gulf of Aden region in 2008 , meaning cargo bound for Europe had to round the African continent rather than use the Suez Canal . Pirates attacked nearly 100 vessels and hijacked as many as 40 in the waters off the coast of Somalia in 2008 , according to the International Maritime Bureau . See how pirate attacks peaked in 2008 » . `` The pirates are living between life and death , '' a pirate leader , identified by only one name , Boyah , told the Somali news organization Garowe Online late last year . CNN obtained the complete interview . `` Who can stop them ? '' Boyah said . `` Americans and British all put together can not do anything . '' Boyah said that the piracy began because traditional coastal fishing became difficult after foreign fishing trawlers depleted local fish stocks . Traditional fishermen started attacking the trawlers until the trawler crews fought back with heavy weapons . The fishermen then turned to softer targets . `` We went into the deep ocean and hijacked the unarmed cargo ships , '' Boyah said . `` For the past three years , we have not operated near the Somali coast . We have operated at least 80 miles [ out ] , in international waters . '' British journalist Colin Freeman and Spanish photojournalist Jose Cendon , both working for London 's Daily Telegraph newspaper , were released Sunday after being held by pirates who abducted them November 26 in the Somali city of Bosasso . Two Somali journalists , who have not been heard from , were also taken , according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists . Task Force 151 is an outgrowth of Combined Task Force-150 , which was created to conduct security operations at the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom -- the U.S. effort in Afghanistan . The task forces are part of the Combined Maritime Forces , which includes naval ships and other assets from more than 20 nations . `` Some navies in our coalition did not have the authority to conduct counter-piracy missions , '' Gortney said . `` The establishment of CTF-151 will allow those nations to operate under the auspices of CTF-150 , while allowing other nations to join CTF-151 to support our goal of deterring , disrupting and eventually bringing to justice the maritime criminals involved in piracy events . '' Michael Howlett , divisional director of the International Maritime Bureau , said attacks have n't stopped , but they have not been as successful recently . He cited the presence of navies in the gulf and the fact that merchant mariners are taking more appropriate measures to avert hijackings as reasons for the decline . He welcomed the establishment of the task force . `` We strongly believe the navies are the only effective response against piracy , '' he said , adding that the navies in the region `` are doing a great job . '' The U.S. Navy praised merchant mariners ' measures against pirate attacks , such as raising ladders , posting lookouts , speeding up , taking evasive maneuvers and using fire hoses . `` The most effective measures we 've seen to defeat piracy are non-kinetic and defensive in nature , '' Gortney said . `` The merchant ships have been doing a great job stepping up and utilizing these methods to defeat piracy attempts . ''
US Fifth Fleet hoping other nations to join anti - piracy force . Combined Task Force 151 will focus solely on fighting piracy . Pirates seized nearly 200 vessels off coast of Somalia in 2008 . International Maritime Organization approved establishment of task force .