QINGDAO -- The 45th fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Tuesday set sail from a military port in the coastal city of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, to take over an escort mission from the 44th naval fleet in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia.

The 45th fleet is composed mainly of naval troops and equipment from the PLA Northern Theater Command, including the guided-missile destroyer Urumqi, the missile frigate Linyi, the comprehensive replenishment vessel Dongpinghu, dozens of special forces personnel and two helicopters.

In preparation for the mission, the fleet carried out meticulous analysis and improved its plans for escort and replenishment missions. It also carried out targeted training for scenarios such as the rescue of hijacked commercial ships, the combating of terrorists and pirates, and the practical use of weapons.