18.12.2009
Northern Fleet's large ASW ship Admiral Chabanenko escorted Cambodia-flagged bulker Lady Alla in the Gulf of Aden on Dec 17, informs press service of Russian Ministry of Defense.
The cargo ship lost motion from time to time due to powerplant failure. Large ASW ship
Admiral Chabanenko secured the vessel and escorted it to Yemeni territorial waters. It is not impossible that the crew of
Lady Alla partially or entirely consists of Russian sailors, specifies
Maritime Bulletin.
Russian Navy's task unit consisting of large ASW ship
Admiral Chabanenko and supply vessel started the mission on enhancing navigation security near Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden on Nov 30.
According to International Maritime Bureau, since Jan 1 till Oct 20, 2009 there were 327 pirate attacks worldwide, 37 vessels were captured and 639 men held hostages. During same period of 2008, those numbers were 194, 36 and 631 correspondingly. Since Jan 1 till Oct 20, 2009 in the Gulf of Aden and near east coast Somalia 174 attacks occurred, 35 vessels were hijacked and 587 men held hostages.
Over ten percent of the world's maritime traffic and about one third of the world's shipment of crude are carried out through the Gulf of Aden. Every year around 20,000 vessels pass that region. Around 30 ships from more than 15 countries are currently patrolling the area near Horn of Africa.
Source: RusNavy.com, photo: Admiral Chabanenko (maritimequest.com)
