Up to five deployments of Russian naval ships may be conducted in 2015 for Africa counter-piracy mission
MOSCOW. Jan 2 (Interfax-AVN) - Up to five units of Russian naval ships may be sent to the Gulf of Aden and districts off the Horn of Africa coast to protect civilian vessels operating in these areas from attacks by sea pirates.
"As Navy Commander Admiral Viktor Chirkov has announced, "there are plans this year to organize 4-5 deployments of units of combat ships from the Northern and Pacific Fleets to districts of heightened pirate activity off Africa's eastern coasts. Support vessels (tankers and rescue tugboats) of all fleets will be added to these units," Russian Navy spokesman Captain 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said, citing Chirkov.
The counter-piracy mission currently involves a unit of Northern Fleet ships, including the large anti-submarine ship Severomorsk, "which will have to ensure the safe passage of four convoys of different civilian vessels through potentially dangerous districts," Dygalo said.
"The patter of activities of Russian combat ships in the Gulf of Aden will remain unchanged and will continue to include escorting convoys of civilian vessels. Specialists for inspection and counter-terrorism groups will be trained at fleets' permanent bases, as well as on the premises of the Navy's United Training Center in St. Petersburg," Dygalo said.
In 2015, "combat ships and support vessels of the Navy will continue to tackle tasks aimed at preventing pirate attacks on civilian vessels in the Gulf of Aden and off the Horn of Africa," he said.