09.11.2011
Text: Eastern Military District Information Support Dept
Photo: Cruiser Varyag. Eastern Military District Information Support Dept
Formal visit of Pacific Fleet (PF) flagship Guard missile cruiser Varyag and tanker Irkut to Canadian port Vancouver has started. Royal Canadian Navy delegated destroyer HMCS Algonquin as a host ship. This is the first visit of Russian warships to Vancouver. Russian sailing ships Kruzenshtern and Pallada called this port in recent years.
During the 4-day call, Russian servicemen will pay courtesy visits to Canadian Navy's officials, city administration, take part in commemoration ceremony at the Unknown Soldier memorial, and play soccer and volleyball games with Canadian counterparts.
Residents of Vancouver will be allowed to visit cruiser
Varyag and have onboard excursions on Nov 9 and 10. Accompanied with HMCS
Algonquin, the ships will leave Vancouver on Nov 11 heading for the home land.
Recall that the PF task unit visited Japanese port Maizuru (Honshu Island) in Sept 2011 and participated in Russian-Japanese joint rescue exercise.
In Oct 2011, Russian mariners paid a visit to Mariana Islands (USA) and held the
Pacific Eagle 2011 anti-piracy exercise along with US Navy's ships.
