EU NAVFOR ATALANTA AFM VPD's RETURN

Monday, 5th July 2010

Soldiers back from Somalia anti-piracy mission

reporting for Youtube.com by Ivan M. Consiglio (HQ AFM Public Information Cell)
additional reporting Chris Scicluna (www.timesofmalta.com), and Kurt Sansone, The Times
TV news report by Fiorella Pace (PBS TV News)
film by David Gutteridge (PBS TV News)
and by Dutch Ministry of Defence combat media team
pictures by LBdr. Justin Gatt, AFM Press Office

An Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) detachment of 12 Maltese soldiers returned home this morning, after having served in anti-piracy operations off Somalia with the Dutch Navy as part of the EU Naval Force ATLANTA in the Gulf of Aden. They returned on the LPD warship "Johan de Witt", their home for the past three months, and found relatives waiting for them at Boiler Wharf/Senglea Quay in Grand Harbour, Malta. The ship berthed at Grand Harbour while on its way back to the Netherlands, after completing her three-month tour of duty.

Malta's contribution to the UN-mandated EU anti-piracy mission was the first in which soldiers were directly engaged in live operations. The Maltese Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD) on board the warship was deployed on various occasions to protect merchant ships that were transporting humanitarian cargo to Somalia. The AFM soldiers contributed to operations to deter and disrupt pirates from deploying to sea. They also participated in confidence-building with the local fishing community missions. This was the first time that the AFM has deployed troops in the theatre of operations of an EU-led mission.

According to an AFM and Dutch Ministry of Defence statement, in one incident on June 18, they came face to face with six pirates as their pirate-skiff was intercepted in the Gulf of Aden. As soon the six pirates onboard the skiff approached and realised they were dealing with a military vessel in the shape of a Dutch warship, they changed their course direction towards the Somali coast. The Maltese soldiers were deployed in a fast boat to confront the aggressors. The "Johan de Witt" also fired a number of warning shots in the skiff's direction. It stopped and the suspected pirates surrendered, with the AFM team securing the skiff and transferring the pirates onto the Dutch navy ship.

The participation of the Maltese troops was praised last month by Dutch Defence Minister Eimert van Middelkoop, who visited the ship and later also visited Malta. The Maltese soldiers, he said, had completely integrated with the Dutch team. "I was impressed by their professionalism."

An "end of mission ceremony" was held on board later this morning in the presence of parliamentary assistant, Dr. Franco Debono, the Dutch Ambassador to Malta - His Excellency Mr Robbert Gabriëlse , Commander AFM - Brigadier Martin G. Xuereb and the Commanding Officer of the HNLMS Johan de Witt, Captain Ben Bekkering.

During the brief welcome ceremony on board the ship, the AFM soldiers were decorated with a Service Medal for EU Operations by the Dutch government, recognising their service on this mission.

In a brief address extolling the success of the operation, which he described as a milestone for the Maltese Armed Forces, AFM Commander, Brigadier Martin Xuereb not only thanked the soldiers but also their families. "We owe a big thank you for the support you gave your loved ones," he told mothers, fathers, wives and girlfriends assembled on deck.

Three captured Somali pirate-skiffs were onboard the vessel's large helicopter deck, aft of the ship.

In a separate EU training mission, another three soldiers of the 1st Regiment AFM are engaged in training Somali government soldiers in Uganda.

Location: Boiler Wharf/Senglea Quay, Grand Harbour, Malta

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• AFM
• FAM
• Armed Forces
• Malta
• Forzi Armati
• Maltin
• EU NAVFOR ATALANTA
• Somalia
• anti-piracy
• piracy
• VPD
• Vessel Protection Detachment
• C (SD) Company
• 1 Regiment AFM
• Johan de Witt
• EU Operaties