French and American Sailors Protect the Pallada from Pirates
While making an around the world cruise, the sail-training frigate "Pallada" successfully cleared the Gulf of Aden last week, where maritime bandits have been especially impertinent, chasing down ships and taking their crews prisoner.
We remind you that a Russian ship and her crew was taken prisoner here not long ago. In order to avoid a similar emergency with the cadet sailing ship, Russian authorities have contacted the sailors of several nations whose ships stand watch in the Indian Ocean through Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Navy channels.
The call was heard. During the "Pallada's" transit of the Gulf of Aden, the sailing ship was under constant visual surveillance of a French military vessel patrolling the dangerous area.
Now the "Pallada" is on her way to Malaysian shores and should arrive there around the 25th of June. It should be noted that that area isn't the safest part of the world ocean either. Chinese "Triads" have operated fast pirate motorboats in the area. By the way, the "Pallada" will be under reliable watch here also - an American Carrier Strike Group is operating in the area now.
In any case, additional security precautions have been taken on the ship. In part, they have reinforced the watch, turned on full lighting at night and have manned the fire mains and can turn a stream of water from the fire hoses on the pirates if they attempt to board forcibly.
We remind you that the frigate "Pallada", on which there are 122 cadets, set out on an around the world cruise from Vladivostok on the 2nd of Novemeber, 2007. The cruise is in honor of a previous around the world cruise 190 years ago.
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