Russian frigate continues ship escort duty off Somali coast
12/12/2008 15:38 MOSCOW, December 12 (RIA Novosti) - A missile frigate from Russia's Northern Fleet is continuing its duty to protect commercial ships from Somali pirate attacks near the Horn of Africa, a Navy spokesman said on Friday.
Russia dispatched the Neustrashimy to the Gulf of Aden in October, following the surge in pirate attacks. The frigate has escorted eight convoys, comprising a total of 28 ships.
"On Friday, the Neustrashimy took under protection the Malta-flagged Zarifa Aliyeva tanker," Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said.
The Neustrashimy will continue to escort commercial vessels through the dangerous waters off the Somali coast until the end of the year, when it will be replaced by the Pacific Fleet's destroyer Admiral Vinogradov, which left a naval base near Vladivostok on Tuesday on a course for the Indian Ocean.
According to the International Maritime Bureau, Somali pirates have carried out 92 attacks on commercial ships this year, hijacking 36 vessels. There are currently 14 ships being held with 268 crew hostage.
Between November 10 and 16, there were 11 attacks in the Gulf of Aden, with three vessels hijacked and another four fired upon.
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