China's 13th escort fleet returns from Somali waters

The 13th naval escort squad sent by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy to Somali waters has returned home after successfully completing its mission.

The fleet, including the frigates Huangshan and Hengyang as well as the supply ship Qinghaihu, arrived at a port in Zhanjiang, a city in south China's Guangdong Province, on Thursday morning.

During the 196-day mission in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters, the flotilla escorted 166 vessels to protect them from pirates, checked and drove away 110 suspicious ships.

Prior to the fleet's return, the team also visited Malta, Algeria, Morocco, Portugal and France.

China sent its first convoy fleet to the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters in December 2008.