Russian Nadezhda Frigate Passes Tough Control of US and British Military Men in Suez Canal

The Russian sailing frigate Nadezhda making a circumnavigation has successfully passed the tough control of US and British military men fighting against Iraq.

Sailing through the Suez Canal, a military artery of the coalition forces, was a serious experience for the circumnavigation participants, the Vladivostok Maritime State University /Russia's Far East/ told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

The Nadezhda crew was forbidden to land in Aden and Suez. The frigate having enough food and sweet water reserves onboard successfully passed the Suez Canal and headed for the Mediterranean Sea.

However, reconnaissance planes without any markings onboard are frequently flying over the training frigate as well as over other peace ships.

The sailing training frigate Nadezhda started its circumnavigation on January 25th, 2003.

Its crew consisting of 60 third-year students of Vladivostok University is successfully combining their practice with studies. The sailing frigate also has a scientific expedition on board for conducting research of the World Ocean and the atmosphere envisaged by the circumnavigation programme.

The circumnavigation is devoted to the 200th anniversary of the first Russian circumnavigation of the Nadezhda and the Neva sailing vessels headed by Ivan Krusenstern and Yuri Lisyansky.

The route of the current circumnavigation will be as close as possible to the route made by the ships of Krusenstern and Lisyansky two centuries ago. The circumnavigation will last over a year.