Warships and support vessels of Russian Navy will continue to perform tasks to prevent pirate attacks on civilian ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa, Navy commander-in-chief Adm. Viktor Chirkov said.
Currently, Russia’s anti-piracy mission is performed by the squadron of Northern Fleet warships led by submarine chaser Severomorsk, which is expected to guide four convoys of various classes vessels through potentially hazardous areas.
“It is expected that 4-5 campaigns of [Russia’s] Northern and Pacific fleets warships will be organized during the year in areas of increased pirate activity off the African east coast. To support the activities of these squadrons, additional vessels (tankers, rescue vessels) of all [Russian] fleets will be involved,” Chirkov said.
The scheme of Russian warships actions in the Gulf of Aden will remain unchanged and will include the organization of the escort of civil ships convoys. The training for the inspection and anti-terror groups will be implemented at the permanent bases of the fleets, as well as at the Joint Training Center of the Navy in St. Petersburg.
The struggle against pirates in the Gulf of Aden is conducted as part of the 2008 EU Naval mission Atalanta and the NATO operation Ocean Shield launched in 2009. The latter, in addition to the primary task of combating piracy, is also expected to help countries in the region to launch their own measures against the threat.
Russian warships have been carrying out the mission to ensure the safety of navigation in the Horn of Africa and Gulf of Aden since 2008.
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