Russian Navy Continues to Escort Vessels Off Somalia

The Russian Navy warship Admiral Chabanenko will continue escorting commercial vessels through pirate-infested waters off the Horn of Africa.

The destroyer began escorting commercial ships in the Gulf of Aden on 4 December 2009 and is currently replenishing its supplies from the Lena tanker.

In November 2009, the Russia Navy resumed its anti-piracy missions by deploying a Russian task force comprising the Admiral Chabanenko and a support ship in the Gulf of Aden.

The 163m-long, 19.3m-wide warship has a full load displacement of 8,950t. It can accommodate a crew of 296 and can cruise at a speed of 29.5kt.

The Russian Navy is dispatching warships on a rotational basis and joined international anti-piracy efforts off the Somali coast in October 2008.