Pacific Fleet’s Task Force Returns after Anti-Piracy Mission

Russian Pacific Fleet's task force led by the Admiral Panteleyev destroyer arrives on Sunday in the Far Eastern port of Vladivostok after a successful anti-piracy mission off the Somali coast, the fleet’s spokesman said.

The Udaloy class destroyer is accompanied by the Fotiy Krylov salvage tug and the Boris Butoma tanker.

“The welcome home ceremony will be held at the Golden Horn Bay,” Capt. 1st Rank Roman Martov said.

During a four-month anti-piracy mission, which ended on January 15, Admiral Panteleyev escorted a number of commercial convoys through pirate-infested waters off the Somali coast.

The task force has paid friendly visits to Cambodia, Djibouti, the Seychelles, Indonesia and Philippines while returning from the mission.

At present, another Pacific Fleet’s task force, led by Udaloy class destroyer Admiral Tributs, is carrying out an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, as Russian warships operate in the area on a rotating basis.

Russian warships have successfully escorted more than 130 commercial vessels from various countries through pirate-infested waters off the Somali coast since 2008, when Russia joined the international anti-piracy efforts in the region.


Source: Moscow, 07 February 2012 - RIA Novosti News -Sea piracy in the modern world (http://en.rian.ru)

Photo: During a four-month anti-piracy mission, which ended on January 15, Admiral Panteleyev escorted a number of commercial convoys through pirate-infested waters off the Somali coast (Photo by Vitaliy Ankov © RIA Novosti)

(2/12/2012)