Pacific Fleet task group sailed off Vladivostok to visit Singapore

03.05.2011 Pacific Fleet (PF) task group consisting of large ASW ship Admiral Panteleyev and salvage tug Fotiy Krylov left Vladivostok on Monday to pay friendly visit to Singapore and take part in international defense show IMDEX-2011, reported RIA Novosti referring to PF Commander's press secretary Capt 1 rank Roman Martov.

"The task group will arrive in Singapore on May 16. The visit is held under the flag of Primorsk Flotilla Commander Capt 1 rank Viktor Sokolov", said the interviewee.

According to him, during the visit Russian ships will attend the IMDEX arms show.

"Russian warships participated in such exhibitions many times. For instance, PF flagship Guard missile cruiser Varyag called at Singapore port in 2009 for the same purpose", pointed out the official.

The visit to Singapore will last till May 20. Then PF ships will head for Indonesia to call at Makassar port in May 25-27.

"During the visit, Russian and Indonesian marines will conduct joint anti-piracy exercise. For this purpose, large ASW ship Admiral Panteleyev has a special marine unit and air wing on board; among them there are servicemen who had participated in anti-piracy operations before", Martov said.

Press secretary reminded that the crew of Admiral Panteleyev leading the PF second anti-piracy task force had been protecting commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden since Apr 27 till June 7, 2009.

During a patrol off Somalia, PF mariners detained a group of 29 pirates with small arms, boarding ladders, navigation equipment, and large number of fired cases. Pirates were handed over to Iranian and Pakistani authorities then.