Pacific Fleet (PF) task unit headed by Capt 1 rank Ildar Akhmerov and consisting of large ASW ship Admiral Tributs, replenishment tanker Pechenga, and seagoing tug MB-37 has completed anti-piracy mission off the Horn of Africa and is currently heading for homebase.
Through over 3 months of anti-piracy watch in the Gulf of Aden, the Russian Navy’s task unit has escorted five convoys comprising merchant vessels from various countries.
At present, the ship is heading in the Indian Ocean. Underway home, PF mariners will pay formal visit to Vietnamese port Ho Chi Minh in Apr 4-7. Russian servicemen will have a rest and replenish supplies there.
This is the seventh PF task unit deployed to the Gulf of Aden; large ASW ship Admiral Tributs has effectively accomplished her second anti-piracy mission.
During the anti-piracy patrols, ships of the unit called at port of Djibouti to participate in Russia’s presidential elections and port of Victoria (Seychelles) to conduct joint counter-piracy exercise. Besides, Russian naval mariners attended a carnival annually held in Seychelles.
PF servicemen met with NATO command directly in the patrol area and held joint underway replenishment drill.
The task unit will arrive in the PF main base Vladivostok late in Apr 2012.
[mappress] World Maritime News Staff, March 28, 2012; Image: Vulcano