Large ASW ship Marshal Shaposhnikov freed tanker Moscow University

06.05.2010 Pacific Fleet (PF) large ASW ship Marshal Shaposhnikov freed Russian tanker Moscow University hijacked by pirates day before in the Gulf of Aden, reports RIA Novosti referring to EUNAVFOR representative.

The tanker's crew of 23 Russians including 2 women is safe and well. Marshal Shaposhnikov arrived at the hijack site about 3 am and monitored the situation for a while; afterwards, the sailors carried out crew release operation. Pirates had no time to lay down tanker release conditions.

Currently, the releasers stay on board Moscow University.

In the morning of May 5 tanker Moscow University was fired upon and captured by pirates sailing on two fast-speed cutters 350 miles offshore in the eastern part of the Gulf of Aden. The shipmaster reported about hijack attempts to Marshal Shaposhnikov deployed in the region; then the contacts were discontinued. Built in 1999, Liberian-flagged tanker belonging to Novorossiysk Shipping Company (Novoship) was carrying 86,000 tons of crude oil from the Red Sea to China; the ship's displacement is 106,500 tons.

Vessels captured by pirates with Russians/Ukrainians on board

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 tons.

Asian Glory. UK-flagged automobile carrier was captured 900 nautical 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.

Frigia. Maltese-flagged ship with 2 Ukrainians and 19 Turks was hijacked on March 23, 2010 off Indian coast. Ship's deadweight is 35,244 tons.

Marshal Shaposhnikov

Project 1155 large antisubmarine warfare ship

REGISTRATION

Pacific Fleet

CONSTRUCTION, NAME

The ship was laid down in 1983 at Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad; launched in January 1985; commissioned on February 15, 1986.

MILESTONES

In 1987 the ship visited ports of Mozambique, India, Angola and Seychelles.

In 1988-1989 she was deployed at the Persian Gulf.

In 1990 the ship called a visit to North Korean port, evacuated Soviet citizens from Ethiopia.

In 1993-1994 she was under complete overhaul at Dalzavod Shipyard in Vladivostok.

In 1994 the ship visited Hawaiian Islands; in 2006 – Guam.

In September 2008 a fire occurred on board the ship during exercise in the Sea of Japan. Two seamen died.

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS

Speed: 29.5 knots, cruising – 14 knots
Endurance: 30 days
Crew: 220 men
Total displacement: 7,480 tons
Standard displacement: 6,840 tons
Length: 163 meters
Beam: 19 meters
Draft: 7.8 meters

PROPULSION

2 shafts; 4 gas turbines; 61,000 shp (2 x 8,000 shp cruise gas turbines GTU M-70 and 2 x 22,500 shp boost gas turbines GTU M-8KF)

ARMAMENT

2 x 4-container launchers of Rastrub rocket torpedo system
6-26 mines
8 Kinzhal SAM launchers (64 missiles)
1 coupled 100-mm AK-100 gun mount
4 x 6-barreled 30-mm machineguns AK-630M
RBU-6000 antisubmarine rocket launchers
2 Ka-27 helicopters