Russian frigate Pallada ends visit to Singapore, sets course for Borneo

VLADIVOSTOK, March 11 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian frigate Pallada sailing on a training voyage in seas of Southeast Asia has completed its visit to Singapore and sets course for Borneo, third largest island in the world and the largest island of Asia, situated southeast of the Malay Peninsula in the Greater Sunda group of the Malay Archipelago. The frigate will call at the port of Muara in the Sultanate of Brunei in the northwest of Borneo, the press service of Far Eastern State Technical Fisheries University said on Tuesday. Onboard the frigate are 95 students of Far Eastern State Technical Fisheries University, 20 students of Singapore Maritime Academy and 35 crewmembers. Singaporean students undergo training on the Russian frigate under a treaty on cooperation between Far Eastern State Technical Fisheries University and Singapore Maritime Academy. The first joint voyage of future Russian and Singaporean commanders of fishing and transport fleets took place on March 7-10. A second group of Singaporean students will undergo a similar training during the Pallada’s voyage to Borneo. The frigate will reach the port of Murua on March 17, where students will go ashore, while the Pallada will sail for South Korea’s Busan, where it will call at on April 4. The frigate plans to return to its port of registration, Vladivostok, on April 9. The frigate was built in Poland in 1989. The ship is 108 metres long and its endurance cruise is 30 days. The Pallada is capable of taking on board 144 students for training voyages. The frigate develops the speed of 18 knots under sails. At the moment, the Pallada is the world’s fastest sailing ship.