7th naval flotilla returns after escort mission

HANGZHOU - After serving in Somali waters for six months, the missile frigates Zhoushan and Xuzhou serving the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy returned home Monday to a naval base in the Zhoushan Islands in eastern China.

A welcome ceremony is held in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province Monday for Chinese naval officers and soldiers who returned from an escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and in waters off the coast of Somalia. [Photo/Xinhua]

During their 189-day mission in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters, the two frigates rescued one ship from onboard pirate attacks and another nine from pirate pursuits.

The flotilla escorted 578 vessels to protect them from pirates in the region. The team also escorted ships used to evacuate Chinese citizens from Libya.

Prior to the ships' return, the team visited Tanzania, South Africa and the Republic of Seychelles, and stopped over at Singapore.

The frigates set sail for the Gulf of Aden on November 2, 2010.

The Qiandaohu, a supply ship previously with the 7th escort force, was ordered to continue its mission with the 8th squad.