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Chinese warships ready for pirates
By Li Xinran |
January 7, 2009, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AFTER successfully carrying out its first escort mission in pirate-plagued waters, a Chinese Navy task force is preparing to cover another 11 domestic merchant vessels that will travel around Somalia this week.
"We will provide information and necessary rescue services for merchant ships passing through the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters," He Jianzhong, spokesman for the Ministry of Transport, said yesterday.
The destroyers Haikou and Wuhan and the supply vessel Weishanhu steamed into the Gulf of Aden yesterday after a 10-day voyage from China's Hainan Island.
Soon after its arrival, the task force conducted its first escort service for four Chinese merchant vessels, including one from Hong Kong.
Under command of the fleet's flagship, the Wuhan, the four merchant vessels sailed in a line formation and passed through the warship's patrol zone.
Fifteen Chinese merchant ships have applied for escort services to the Ministry of Transport, which began accepting applications yesterday, He said.
United Nations' vessels and international organizations transporting humanitarian cargo may also apply to the Chinese Navy for protection.
As a government endeavor, there is no charge for the escorts, according to the spokesman.
There have been 124 pirate attacks off Somalia this year and some 60 successful hijackings, according to Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers Assistance Program.
Nearly 400 people and 19 ships are being held along the coast, including a Saudi supertanker with 2 million barrels of oil and a Ukrainian cargo ship with 33 tanks. One Chinese ship and 17 sailors are among those still under the pirates' control.
China is now involved in peacekeeping operations around the world, including Haiti and Sudan's troubled Darfur region. The country was praised in July by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for its contribution, of funding and forces.
"We will provide information and necessary rescue services for merchant ships passing through the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters," He Jianzhong, spokesman for the Ministry of Transport, said yesterday.
The destroyers Haikou and Wuhan and the supply vessel Weishanhu steamed into the Gulf of Aden yesterday after a 10-day voyage from China's Hainan Island.
Soon after its arrival, the task force conducted its first escort service for four Chinese merchant vessels, including one from Hong Kong.
Under command of the fleet's flagship, the Wuhan, the four merchant vessels sailed in a line formation and passed through the warship's patrol zone.
Fifteen Chinese merchant ships have applied for escort services to the Ministry of Transport, which began accepting applications yesterday, He said.
United Nations' vessels and international organizations transporting humanitarian cargo may also apply to the Chinese Navy for protection.
As a government endeavor, there is no charge for the escorts, according to the spokesman.
There have been 124 pirate attacks off Somalia this year and some 60 successful hijackings, according to Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers Assistance Program.
Nearly 400 people and 19 ships are being held along the coast, including a Saudi supertanker with 2 million barrels of oil and a Ukrainian cargo ship with 33 tanks. One Chinese ship and 17 sailors are among those still under the pirates' control.
China is now involved in peacekeeping operations around the world, including Haiti and Sudan's troubled Darfur region. The country was praised in July by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for its contribution, of funding and forces.
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