Admiral Vinogradov completes escorting the 13th convoy through the Gulf of Aden

07.04.2011 Pacific Fleet (PF) large ASW ship Admiral Vinogradov participating in international anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday completed escorting of the 13th convoy; afterwards, the Russian ship will begin forming another convoy to escort it backward, reported RIA Novosti referring to PF Commander's press-secretary Capt 1 rank Roman Martov.

Fifth PF task force consisting of large ASW ship Admiral Vinogradov, salvage tug SB-522, and tanker Pechenga arrived in the Gulf of Aden from Vladivostok on Dec 22, 2010. Admiral Vinogradov has two deck-based helicopters conducting permanent air reconnaissance. PF marine units are on board all ships of the task force; prior to the mission, they had passed long-term training program.

"Large ASW ship Admiral Vinogradov escorts a 4-vessel convoy from the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal. Currently, the convoy has approached Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The Russian warship will finish the escort by the end of Thursday and start to form a new convoy", said Martov.

According to him, another ship of the fifth PF anti-piracy task force – tanker Pechenga – sails from Saudi Arabia heading for rendezvous point to meet with Admiral Vinogradov. The tanker paid a formal call at Jidda port to replenish fuel, water, and food supplies.

"Forming of the 14th multinational convoy will take several days. During this time tanker Pechenga will transfer part of fuel, fresh water, and food supplies to the warship. After that, Admiral Vinogradov will escort the next convoy", Martov said.

He recalled that in the fall of 2008 large ASW ship Admiral Vinogradov was the first PF ship arrived in the Gulf of Aden to fight Somali piracy. Now the ship heads the fifth PF task force.

PF marines of the fourth task force and large ASW ship Marshal Shaposhnikov on May 6, 2010 released Liberian-flagged tanker Moscow University captured by pirates in the Gulf of Aden. There were 23 Russian sailors on board the tanker carrying 86,000 tons of oil from the Red Sea to China. No crewmembers suffered during the assault operation; ten pirates were captured, one killed.

"Previous four PF anti-piracy task forces have escorted over 100 merchant vessels from various countries. None of them was hijacked by pirates. Pacific Fleet command has received dozens of grateful letters and telegrams from shipmasters and directors of shipping companies. Best PF servicemen distinguished themselves while countering Somali piracy and were decorated with national awards", said the press secretary.