Iran Sends New Naval Fleet to High Seas
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Navy’s 33rd fleet of warships departed for the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea on Sunday in a bid to protect cargo ships and oil tankers in the international waters.
The naval fleet consists of Vice-Admiral Qandi destroyer, Bandar Abbas logistic-combat warship and Tareq submarine.
The 33rd fleet is scheduled to sail across northern parts of the Indian Ocean, southern waters of India and Sri Lanka, the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea.
In a ceremony to deploy the fleet, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said the 33rd fleet is expected to provide security for both Iranian and foreign vessels in the shipping lines of the high seas, and added that navy cadets will also receive necessary training on the voyage.
The newly deployed fleet left Iran immediately after the 32nd flotilla -comprised of Jamaran destroyer and Bushehr logistic vessel- returned home after an 80-day mission overseas.
The 32nd fleet set sail from Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas on November 4, 2014.
During its presence in the Sea of Oman, northern part of the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, the 32nd fleet carried out 5 successful anti-piracy operations.
On December 29, 2014, the fleet performed a successful anti-piracy operation around the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait while it was patrolling in nearby waters as part of the units participating in Army's massive drills in southern and southeastern Iran.
Army Lieutenant Commander Brigadier General Abdolrahim Mousavi said on Sunday that Iran’s naval presence in the international waters conveys the message of “might, peace, friendship and culture of the Islamic Revolution.”