The Hengyang guided missile frigate and the Qinghai Lake comprehensive supply ship from the 13th naval escort task-force of the Chinese Navy returned on January 11 from its 536th escort mission, thus marking the completion of 5,000 escorts of Chinese and foreign vessels, China Military Online reports.
The 13th naval escort task-force deployed from Zhanjiang of South China’s Guangdong province to the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somali coast at the beginning of November 2012. As explained, during this period piracy heightens in activity due to relatively sound sea conditions in the area.
So far, thirteen escort task-forces of the Chinese Navy deployed to the Gulf of Aden and the surrounding waters off bringing to safety over 60 Chinese and foreign ships.
On December 26 of 2012 the Chinese Navy marked the 4th anniversary of escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somali coast carried out by the task-forces of the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, January 14, 2013; Image: mil