Pacific Fleet flagship prepares for long-range cruise

19.08.2011 Pacific Fleet (PF) Guard missile cruiser Varyag prepares for a long-range cruise. The cruiser's crew is going to pay informal visits to Japan, the US, and Canada.

The main purpose of the visit is further naval cooperation with those countries, and demonstration of St. Andrew's flag in the Pacific Ocean.

The ocean cruise will last several months. Russian mariners plan to begin it in Sept and now carry out final preparations. At initial stage of the cruise, PF mariners will call at Japanese port Maizuru and then participate in search-and-rescue exercise jointly with Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Then the PF flagship will chart a course toward Guam Island, the US. At Mariana Islands, Russian mariners will conduct the Pacific Eagle 2011 along with their American colleagues. This is going to be the second visit of Russian warships to that island in Russia's recent history. The first one was paid in 2006. At that time Russia was represented by large ASW ship Marshal Shaposhnikov.

At the closing stage of the cruise, Varyag will pay informal visit to Vancouver, Canada.

The PF will return to the homebase early in Dec 2011.