The Russian Pacific Fleet"s Udaloy class...

The Marshal Shaposhnikov destroyer has two naval helicopters and a unit of naval infantry on board.

"The weapons and technical equipment on the ships are functioning properly. The crew is healthy and carrying out duties on schedule," the spokesman said.

A Russian Pacific Fleet task force comprising the Marshal Shaposhnikov, the MB-37 salvage tug and the Pechenga tanker arrived in the Gulf of Aden on March 29 to join the anti-piracy mission there.

Somali pirates carried out a record number of attacks and hijackings in 2009. According to the International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Center, a total of 217 vessels were attacked last year, resulting in 47 hijackings.

The Russian Navy has maintained a near-permanent presence off the Horn of Africa, with warships operating on a rotation basis. Russia joined international anti-piracy efforts off the Somali coast in October 2008.

The task force is the fourth group of warships from the Russian Pacific

Pages: [1] 2