Yesterday morning, the AFM’s Special Duties Enhanced Boarding Team (SDEBT), led by Lt Col Ian Ruggier and composed of three Officers and nineteen Other Ranks, returned to Malta, sealing yet another success for the Armed Forces of Malta.

The Maltese soldiers were serving off the coast of Somalia on board the Dutch Navy Mother ship, HNLMS Johan de Witt as part of the EU Led Anti-Piracy mission codenamed EU NAV FOR ATALANTA. The Maltese contingent served as the sole Force Protection Team to the vessel and performed several board-and-search operations in the Gulf of Aden, deterring pirate attacks in the region.

For the third year running, the Maltese Team integrated very well with their Dutch counterparts and this experience not only improved the already existing military-to-military relationship but gave birth to new friendships between servicemen and women of both countries.

As part of the shift change onboard the Dutch Navy Ship, Dutch Marines have now taken over the protection duties that were previously being carried out by the Maltese forces. The Maltese contingent was met on its arrival at the Malta International Airport by the Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, Brigadier Martin G Xuereb, accompanied by Capt Jason Pisani, Officer Commanding ‘C’ Special Duties Company. Brigadier Xuereb praised the Maltese Boarding team for the excellent results they attained, emphasising that they were a testament of the versatility and professionalism of the Maltese Soldier even in theatres of operation well beyond Maltese shores.

At the end of its deployment, the HNLMS Johan de Witt is expected to call at the Grand Harbour where a formal ceremony that will once again celebrate the close ties between the Armed Forces of Malta and Royal Netherlands Armed Forces will be held aboard.

As soon as the AFM team entered the Arrivals Lounge, the waiting crowd of family members erupted into spontaneous applause, many displaying messages of congratulations and affection.

The AFM’s Special Duties Enhanced Boarding Team will now proceed on some days of well earned rest before returning back to their Unit.

The role of the EU NAVFOR ATALANTA is to contribute to deter piracy and armed robbery in the region with a view to strengthen the security within the area of operations. Specific roles performed in priority order include: The protection of World Food Programme (WFP) vessels delivering aid to displaced persons in Somalia, and the protection of African Union Mission on Somalia (AMISOM) shipping.

The protection of vulnerable shipping off the Somali coast on a case by case basis. In addition, the EU NAVFOR also contributes to the monitoring of fishing activities off the coast of Somalia. The deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the Somali coast.

Photographs – Armed Forces of Malta Press Office.

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