Russian warships to fight piracy along with NATO and EU

01.04.2010 Source: RIA Novosti, photo: Project 1155 large ASW ship (warships.ru)

Pacific Fleet (PF) anti-piracy task unit arrived to the Gulf of Aden and led by large ASW ship Marshal Shaposhnikov will cooperate with NATO's 151 Squadron and EU NAVFOR, reported Wednesday RIA Novosti citing representative of Pacific Fleet HQ.

PF task unit consisting of large ASW ship Marshal Shaposhnikov, tanker Pechenga and ocean-going salvage tug MB-37 have arrived to the Horn of Africa coast on March 29.

"Russian task unit will exchange information with EU warships and NATO's 151 squadron, although our ships will act in accordance with national plan", said the interviewee.

According to him, PF task unit currently receives operating data from Northern Fleet's large ASW ship Admiral Chabanenko which is going to leave the zone of international antipiracy operation and head for Severomorsk in the nearest future.

"By this means Russian Navy carries out rotation of warships which provide continuous presence in the Gulf of Aden to fight piracy", said the PF official.

The task unit led by large ASW ship Marshal Shaposhnikov is the fourth PF unit dispatched to take part in the counter-piracy operation. All ships of the unit have PF marine teams on board. In addition, Marshal Shaposhnikov carries two ship-based helicopters.

The first PF task unit consisting of large ASW ship Admiral Vinogradov, salvage tug Fotiy Krylov, tankers Boris Butoma and Pechenga kept combat watch near Horn of Africa in Jan-March 2009.

The second unit – large ASW ship Admiral Panteleev, salvage tug SB-37, tankers Izhora and Irkut – participated in international operation since Apr 27 till June 7, 2009.

The third PF task unit (large ASW ship Admiral Tributs, tanker Boris Butoma and ocean-going salvage tug MB-99) patrolled the region since July 30 till Oct 15, 2009. The unit returned to Vladivostok on Nov 16, 2009.

Totally, the three task units escorted over 100 merchant ships from 26 countries, having repelled about 20 attempts to capture cargo vessels.

Since Dec 2008 the European Union conducts naval operation Atalanta near Somalia. It was initially reported that the operation would last 12 months, although in June 2009 it was decided to extend the terms of operation for a year. Following countries take part in EU Operation Atalanta: Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, and Sweden. Such countries as Norway, Cyprus, Ireland, Malta, and Finland had also declared their readiness to participate. Russian warships are also deployed in the region carrying out patrols and escorting merchant ships.

Apart from the EU, the naval coalition from 16 countries and NATO warships are also deployed in the Gulf of Aden where pirates are most active. In Aug 2009 NATO launched counter-piracy naval operation Ocean Shield near Horn of Africa. Aside from priority task – antipiracy measures – the operation implies assistance to regional states in their own counter-piracy efforts.

Somalia can't find the answer to the problem of piracy since this country ceased to exist as united state in 1991 with falling of Siad Barre dictatorship governed the country since late 60's. Currently, international community recognizes Federal Government of Somalia as the only lawful authority in the country; however, the named government controls only a part of capital city, Mogadishu.

The rest parts of Somalia are either under control of unrecognized state formations or self-governed territories which leaders have different views on integration.

According to International Maritime Bureau, in 2009 Somali pirates carried out 217 attacks and captured 47 vessels.