RNS Neustrashimy escorted first convoy

26.01.2010
Baltic Fleet's frigate Neustrashimy has escorted first 12-ship convoy through the Gulf of Aden; there were Russians on board some vessels of the multinational convoy, informs RIA Novosti referring to Russian Navy's official.

The frigate's crew feels well and keeps watch according to the schedule. Shipborne equipment and armament operates normally, added the source.

Frigate Neustrashimy has recently shifted large ASW ship Admiral Chabanenko in securing navigation near Horn of Africa. Admiral Chabanenko has finished its anti-piracy watch which started on Dec 1, 2009.

Neustrashimy was the first Russian warship deployed for counter-piracy mission. It had been performing tasks on enhancing navigation security there since Oct 2008 till Jan 2009. In January 2009 the frigate was shifted by Pacific Fleet's large ASW ship Admiral Vinogradov; it has been taking part in anti-piracy until March 2009. In April Admiral Vinogradov had been changed by large ASW ship Admiral Panteleev returned back to Vladivostok in June. After that the watch in the Gulf of Aden since July till Oct was kept by large ASW ship Admiral Tributs. On November 16 it returned to Vladivostok.

Russia intends to escalate its military presence off Somalia to continue fighting piracy, said Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's ambassador to NATO summarizing NATO-Russia Council held in Dec 2009.

According to International Maritime Bureau, in 2009 Somali pirates carried out 217 attacks; 47 vessels were hijacked and 867 crewmembers were taken hostage. Mostly, pirates assaulted dry cargo ships; 10 crewmen were wounded, 4 killed, 1 lost.

Piracy emerged off Somalia as a consequence of civil war, poverty and impossibility to find legal job in this country. Anti-piracy missions at the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean are conducted by Russian, American, European and Asian warships.

Below is given Reuters' list of ships held captive by Somali pirates as of Jan 19.

Win Far 161. Thai tunaboat. Hijacked on Apr 6, 2009.

Al Khaliq. Panama-flagged ro-ro ship with 26 crewmembers (24 are Indians) was captured 180 marine miles west Seychelles on Oct 22, 2009. Shipowner and operator is SNP Shipping (Mumbai). Ship's deadweight is 38,305 tonnes.

Thai Union 3. Tunaboat with 27 crewmembers (23 are Russians) was captured 200 marine miles north Seychelles on Oct 29, 2009.

Filitsa. Cargo ship flying flag of Marshall Islands with Greeks and Filipinos on board was hijacked 500 marine miles northeast Seychelles on Nov 10, 2009 while sailing from Kuwait to Republic of South Africa. Ship's deadweight is 23,709 tonnes.

Theresa VIII. Chemical carrier with 28 Chinese crewmen was captured at southern part of Arabian Sea northwest Seychelles on Nov 16, 2009. As explained by one of pirates, the shipmaster died of injuries during seizure. Ship's deadweight is 22,294 tonnes.

Neseya. Indian dhow with 13-men Indian crew was hijacked on Dec 18, 2009 off the port of Kismayu, south Somalia.

Socotra 1. Yemeni vessel with 6 Yemenites was captured at the Gulf of Aden on Dec 25, 2009.

Al Mahmoud 2. On Dec 28 it was reported that Yemeni ship with 15 Yemenites sailed off port of Aden on Dec 18 was hijacked by pirates.

St James Park. UK-flagged chemical carrier was captured at the Gulf of Aden while sailing from Spain to Thailand on Dec 28, 2009. There are 3 Russians, 2 Ukrainians, 6 Indians, 5 Bulgarians, 3 Turks, 3 Filipinos, 2 Romanians, 1 Georgian, and 1 Pole on board. Ship's deadweight is 13,924 tonnes.

Navios Apollon. Panama-flagged ship with 19 crewmen and cargo of fertilizers was hijacked 800 marine miles north Seychelles on Dec 28, 2009 while sailing from the U.S. to India. Ship's deadweight is 52,000 tonnes.

Asian Glory. UK-flagged automobile carrier was captured 900 marine miles north Seychelles on Jan 1, 2010 while sailing from Singapore to Saudi Arabia. There are 10 Ukrainians, 8 Bulgarians, 5 Indians, 2 Romanians and 2,405 Hyundai and KIA cars on board.

MV Pramoni. Chemical carrier flying flag of Singapore was hijacked at the Gulf of Aden on Jan 1, 2010 while sailing from Italy to India. Complement is 17 Indonesians, 5 Chinese, 1 Nigerian, and 1 Vietnamese. Ship's deadweight is 20,000 tonnes.

Source: RusNavy.com, photo: BF frigate Neustrashimy (coldwar-warrior.blogspot.com)