20% of ships in pirate-prone waters will have armed guards by 2013

Around 20% of ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, the epicentres of piracy, will carry armed guards by 2013, according to the Security Association for the Maritime Industry. This is an increase from 12% at present. 

The Security Association for the Maritime Industry represents a fifth of private security firms offering services to shipping companies in the area off the coast of Somalia, according to spokesman Peter Cook. He was speaking at a presentation in London this week.

“There is a wish by some shipowners to have armed guards on board and you can’t dispute the fact they are successful,” Andrew Bardot, secretary and executive officer of the International Group of P&I Clubs, which insures 90 percent of the world fleet against liability claims, told Bloomberg.

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Russian mariners protect a convoy from pirates

Keeping on securing civilian shipping in the Gulf of Aden, Russian large ASW ship Admiral Vinogradov completes the escort of another convoy under command of Capt 2 rank Ivan Kovalev. 

According to Russian Navy's press service, the convoy escorted by Admiral Vinogradov includes Russian-flagged vessel Amderma with 29 Russian crewmen on board. 

Russian task force led by Admiral Vinogradov has been keeping anti-piracy watch in the Gulf of Aden since Dec 2010 protecting commercial ships from pirate attacks. 

Russian Navy secures national shipping off Somali coast and in the Gulf of Aden in accordance with presidential decree issued on Sept 3, 2008, reports Russian defense ministry. 

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Russian warship escorts two foreign vessels across the Gulf of Aden

Pacific Fleet (PF) task force participating in the international anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden started escorting 11th convoy on Wednesday, reported RIA Novosti referring to a spokesman for Russian Navy. 

The fifth PF task force consisting of large ASW ship Admiral Vinogradov, sea-going salvage tug SB-522, and tanker Pechenga arrived from Vladivostok to the Gulf of Aden on Dec 22, 2010. Admiral Vinogradov has two deck-based helicopters providing permanent aerial reconnaissance. Each ship is reinforced with PF marine units which had passed special training prior to the mission. 

Iran sends Navy fleet to Gulf of Aden

The Iranian Navy has dispatched its thirteen fleet of warships to the piracy-ridden waters of the Gulf of Aden in a bid to guard Iranian merchant containers and oil tankers.

"The thirteen fleet of warships, comprised of Tonb and Delvar vessels is tasked with boosting security for Iranian merchant containers and oil tankers in the Gulf of Aden and north of the Indian Ocean for a period of 60 days," IRNA quoted Commander of Iran's First Naval Zone Fariborz Qaderpanah as saying on Thursday. 

Russian warship escorts a 9-vessel convoy in the Gulf of Aden

Pacific Fleet (PF) large ASW ship Admiral Vinogradov which is currently deployed off the Horn of Africa escorts a convoy of 9 vessels, reports RIA Novosti referring to a spokesman for Russian Navy. 

"At present, the Russian warship is escorting nine civil vessels through dangerous waters. Totally, there are 8 Russian crewmembers on board those ships", said the official. 

He underlined that Russian Navy would keep on patrolling the piracy-risky regions. "Ships of all four fleets will carry out maritime security tasks rotationally", said the interviewee. 

PF task force which takes part in the international anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden recently escorted the fifth convoy in 2011. 

Fifth task force of Pacific Fleet consisting of large ASW ship Admiral Vinogradov, ocean-going salvage tug, and tanker Pechenga arrived to the Gulf of Aden from Vladivostok on Dec 22, 2010. Admiral Vinogradov has two deck-based helicopters conducting permanent aerial reconnaissance. All ships of the task force are reinforced with PF marine units; all of them had passed special training prior to the mission.