VLADIVOSTOK, February 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's
Admiral Vinogradov destroyer is escorting four vessels through
waters off the Horn of Africa to protect them against Somali
pirates, Navy Capt. 1st Rank Roman Martov said on Friday.
The Pacific Fleet destroyer is escorting three foreign
vessels and one Russia container ship through the Gulf of Aden.
Once safely in the Arabian Sea, the ships will continue their
individual courses and the Admiral Vinogradov will return to
the Gulf of Aden with another group of foreign ships in its
charge.
Pacific Fleet spokesman Martov said this is the fifth
group of ships the warship has escorted in the pirate-infested
waters since it replaced the Baltic Fleet frigate Neustrashimy
in January.
The Admiral Vinogradov is operating within the framework
of an EU anti-piracy operation, dubbed Atalanta, to protect
shipping lanes off the Horn of Africa from pirates.
Up to 20 warships from the navies of at least 10 countries are
patrolling the area, where pirates based in Somalia seized
around 40 ships last year.
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