Russian frigate escorts three-ship convoy along Somali coast

02.12.2008 Source: en.rian.ru

Russia's Neustrashimy (Fearless) missile frigate is escorting a three-ship convoy past the Horn of Africa, protecting it from Somali pirates, a Russian Navy spokesman said on Monday.

"The Neustrashimy is escorting three ships under Russian, Danish and Cayman Islands flags through an area known for frequent pirate attacks on commercial vessels," Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo told RIA Novosti.

"All technical equipment and weaponry on board the ship are operational," the spokesman said.

In October, Russia dispatched the Neustrashimy from its Northern Fleet to Somalia's coast to protect shipping in the country's waters, where pirates frequently capture ships for ransom.

According to the UN, Somali pirates have attacked over 120 ships so far this year, resulting in the seizure of 39 vessels and the capture of at least 600 merchant seamen for ransom. The east African nation has been without a functioning government since 1991 and has no navy to police its coastline.

During the current mission, the Neustrashimy has so far escorted six convoys, comprising a total of 20 ships, and prevented the seizure of at least two commercial vessels by pirates.

According to the Russian Navy, the warship will continue to protect commercial vessels from pirate attacks off the Somali coast for another month.

Dagblad van het Noorden, a Dutch newspaper, said late on Sunday that the Russian frigate would soon escort a commercial vessel on the request of a Dutch shipping company.

The newspaper cited the company owner as saying he had approached the Russian side after the Dutch Navy refused to provide assistance.

"Fortunately for us, the Russian Navy has agreed to escort our ship and we won't have to pay for it," he said.

The Russian frigate has a variety of heavy weaponry on board, including artillery, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes. However, the team on board uses mainly large-caliber machineguns, assault rifles, and grenade launchers to repel pirate attacks.

At the end of its current sortie, the Neustrashimy will be replaced with another warship from either Russia's Pacific or Northern Fleet, a source from the Navy's main headquarters earlier told RIA Novosti.