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Photo: Admiral Vinogradov.
Having arrived to the Gulf of Aden late in Dec to participate in international anti-piracy operation, fifth task force of Pacific Fleet (PF) on Wednesday started escorting the second in 2011 convoy of 14 merchant vessels, reported RIA Novosti on Tuesday referring to a representative of PF press service.
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PF anti-piracy force escorts a convoy in the Gulf of Aden
13.01.2011
The task force consists of large ASW ship Admiral Vinogradov, sea-going salvage tug, and tanker Pechenga. There are two deck-based helicopters on Admiral Vinogradov; they conduct permanent aerial reconnaissance in the Gulf of Aden. In addition, all ships of the task force are reinforced with PF marines who had passed long special-purpose training prior to the cruise. The task force reached the Gulf of Aden on Dec 22 and entered upon patrolling.
"International convoy was formed in New Year's holidays and is headed by large ASW ship Admiral Vinogradov; it includes 14 civil vessels from ten countries. This is the second convoy in 2011 escorted by the PF task force", specified the interviewee.
According to him, there are 22 Russian sailors in the convoy sailing through piracy-risky waters under cover of Pacific Fleet servicemen.
"In the falls of 2008 Admiral Vinogradov was the first PF warship arrived to the Gulf of Aden to join the long-standing anti-piracy campaign. Now she leads the fifth PF task force", said the interviewee.
He reminded that marines of the fourth PF task force and the crew of large ASW ship Marshal Shaposhnikov on May 6 released Liberian-flagged tanker Moscow University with 23 Russian sailors on board from pirate captivity. The tanker was carrying 86,000 tons of oil from the Red Sea to China. None of Russian crewmen suffered during the assault operation; ten pirates were captured and one was killed.
"Previous four PF task forces had escorted over 100 commercial vessels from different countries. Pirates failed to capture any of them. Pacific Fleet command received dozens of grateful letters and telegrams from shipmasters and shipowners. Best servicemen distinguished themselves in war on piracy were decorated with state rewards", said the interviewee.
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