21.09.2009
Russia and Chinese Navies have conducted joint exercise in the Gulf of Aden, informs Interfax referring to Roman Martov, the head of Pacific Fleet press-service. Russia sent large antisubmarine ship (LAS) Admiral Tributs; Chinese party presented corvettes Zhoushun and Xuzhou.
According to Martov, during the exercise conducted on Sept, 18-20 near Horn of Africa such matters as joint maneuvering, search and inspection of a pirate vessel, afloat cargo transfer were worked out and also a number of other tasks was accomplished. By estimate of Russian Navy officials, all tasks were performed successfully and completely.
On the morrow of the exercise Russian and Chinese ships escorted 23 civil vessels in the Gulf of Aden, nine of them were Russian-flagged.
LAS
Admiral Tributs along with escort vessels, tanker
Boris Butoma and rescue tug
SB-99, has been participating in the international anti-piracy mission since July, 2009. This group of RNSs is third unit sent to the Gulf of Aden to fight piracy. In October, 2009 it will be shifted by the fourth unit started to be formed in mid-September.
Somali pirates became active in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean in spring, 2008. In one and half year pirates dozens times attacked international cargo and merchant vessels, some of them were hijacked. At the second half of 2008 the UN Security Council gave sanction to fight piracy having allowed defeating them on sea, land and air.
Currently, apart from Russian Navy ships, the Gulf of Aden is patrolled by the ships of NATO countries, EU, South Korea, Japan and India.
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