Naval groups of Pacific, Black Sea fleets to fight sea pirates off Horn of Africa
MOSCOW. Nov 8 (Interfax-AVN) - Naval groups of the Russian Pacific and Black Sea Fleets are about to start long oceanic voyages, says a Russian Defense Ministry report obtained by Interfax-AVN on Thursday.
"The Russian Navy command has organized long voyages of naval units of the Pacific and Black Sea Fleets for combat training, naval presence in operationally important areas and security of civilian vessels off the Horn of Africa and Somalia," the report said.
The Pacific Fleet unit made up of the Marshal Shaposhnikov large anti-sub ship, the Irkut medium sea tanker and the Alatau tugboat, departed from the Vladivostok naval base on November 2. The ships are heading for the Arabian Sea, the report said.
Along their route, the ships will have joint training with the Indian Navy and visit Mumbai. They will also visit ports of Thailand, South Korea, Djibouti and the Seychelles.
Meanwhile, the Black Sea Fleet unit comprising the Moskva missile carrying cruiser, the Smetlivy patrol ship, the Nikolai Filchenkov and Novocherkassk large landing ships and support vessels, are preparing to start the voyage.
The unit will leave the Sevastopol base in two takes; the ships will reunite in the designated area of the Mediterranean Sea, the report said.
On their way to the Suez Canal, the warships will have training in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Black Sea Fleet unit will pass through the Suez Canal in late November and begin its mission off the Somali coast in the first days of December, the report said.
The sailors will pay visits to a number of foreign ports to replenish reserves and rest.
Under the plan of oceanic voyages of Pacific and Black Sea Fleet warships, the Russian sailors will fight sea pirates and ensure the security of civilian shipping off the Horn of Africa and in the Gulf of Aden, the report said.
The anti-piracy activity will be coordinated with the NATO Navy command, which supervises the international operation in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden.
