BEIJING, Nov.30 -- The guided-missile destroyer Urumqi (Hull 118) of the 39th Chinese naval escort taskforce convoyed three foreign merchant ships safely to the west part of the Gulf of Aden on November 22, local time. Forty-six Chinese crew members aboard these small-tonnage and slow-speed merchant ships presented a Chinese national flag on the deck to express their gratitude to the Chinese naval ship when bidding farewell.
The guided-missile destroyer Urumqi (Hull 118) of the 39th Chinese naval escort taskforce convoyed three foreign merchant ships safely to the west part of the Gulf of Aden on November 22, local time.
The three escorted ships include a Singapore-registered bulk carrier and two Sierra Leone-registered oil tankers，with a total of 46 Chinese crew members on board.
Based on recent conditions in the waters off Somali, escorting ship raised the level of anti-piracy deployment, and the special operations members kept high alert throughout the mission.
Meanwhile, destroyer Urumqi maintained constant communication with the merchant ships, and helicopters were dispatched to ensure safety while passing through complex sea areas.
Before leaving, the crew members of the merchant ships presented a Chinese national flag on the deck to express their gratitude to the naval ship.
It has been the 1,451st escort mission completed by the Chinese naval escort taskforce.