Special force soldiers stand guard on board and prepare to set sail at a port in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, Feb 27, 2012. The 11th Chinese naval escort flotilla, consisting of destroyer "Qingdao", frigate "Yantai" and comprehensive supply ship "Huishanhu", departed from Qingdao on Feb 27 for the escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters to protect commercial ships from pirate attacks. (Xinhua)

Soldiers of the destroyer "Qingdao" (L) bid farewell to relatives and friends at a port in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, Feb 27, 2012. The 11th Chinese naval escort flotilla, consisting of destroyer "Qingdao", frigate "Yantai" and comprehensive supply ship "Huishanhu", departed from Qingdao on Feb 27 for the escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters to protect commercial ships from pirate attacks. (Xinhua)