MOSCOW. Oct 17 (Interfax) - Russian warships are patrolling waters frequented by sea pirates in order to ensure shipping security, the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said in a statement received by Interfax.
"The Admiral Panteleyev large anti-sub ship of the Pacific Fleet headed a convoy of five vessels at 9:30 p.m. Moscow time on October 16 to bring them through the pirate-infested waters off the Horn of Africa and in the Gulf of Aden," the report said.
The convoy is made up of the Singapore-flagged Ocean Tipan tanker with 26 crew members, the Panama-flagged Pioner Sky bulker with a crew of 27, the India-flagged Prem Divya tanker with a crew of 26, the Bermudes-flagged Choulex bulker with a crew of 25, and the Greece-flagged Maran Lyra tanker with a crew of 28.
"Meanwhile, a unit of North Fleet ships led by the Severomorsk large anti-sub ship, which has fulfilled an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden before, continues its return to base," the report said.
The ships will reach Severomorsk, the main base of the North Fleet, on October 21, the ministry said.