September.03 (China Military news cited from Chinamil.com.cn) -- Approved by the General Staff Headquarters of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, the third Chinese naval escort taskforce (CNET) is scheduled to adjust the escort sea area and navigation line from September 1, so as to further optimize the escort pattern and raise the escort efficiency.
Type 054A Class FFG-530 "Xuzhou" Frigate, one warship of 3th batch of naval escort taskforce, carries escort mission in India Ocean
According to this adjustment, the third CNET will extend the meeting spot in the west part of the previous escort sea area northwestward along the Gulf of Aden for 36 nautical miles to the spot of 12°17.8'N, 43°49'E and add one turning spot along the escort line and one waiting zone for temporary replenishment in the middle of the escort line.
This adjustment is based on the comprehensive consideration of the recent meteorological and maritime conditions and the pirate activity situation in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somali coast and the experience of the previous two Chinese naval escort taskforces.
Compared with the escort line before the adjustment, the new escort line is farther from the Somali coast, the sailing distance is 1.7 nautical miles shorter, and the time of a round trip of the merchant ship is reduced by more than 4 hours. This adjustment can not only save the sailing time, but also reduce the risk of being attacked by pirates. Meanwhile, the northward adjustment of the meeting spot is conductive to the escort taskforce to support and secure merchant ships sailing in the Mandeb Strait and the sea area in the south part of the Red Sea as well.
In view of the adjustment of the escort sea area and navigation line, the command post of the third CNET has already urged the officers and men of the taskforce to earnestly analyze and forecast the meteorological situation and pirate activity situation in the sea area, improve the escort pattern, strengthen the vigilance at the time when meeting and departing from the escorted merchant ships, implement various protection measures, so as to ensure the safety and success of the escort action.
