Members of the Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD) of the Army of Montenegro (VCG), 12 of them, ensured the safe delivery of almost two thousand tons of food and other aid to the population of Somalia, under the auspices of the World Food Program (WFP) of the United Nations ( UN).
As announced by the Ministry of Defence, the AVPD team of the Republic of Croatia, the fourth in a row, returned to Montenegro after a four-month successful engagement in the naval operation of the European Union (EU) Navfor - Atalanta.
"Their task was to prevent, deter, secure and protect the ship "Spikeroog" and its cargo from possible pirate attacks, kidnappings or robberies," the announcement states.
The Ministry of Defense said that in December 2008, the EU formed the naval force EU Navfor Somalia and launched the naval operation "EU Navfor Atalanta" as a response to the growing level of piracy and armed robberies in the so-called maritime space. "Horn of Africa" and in the Indian Ocean.
"Members of the Croatian Navy have been participating in the EU Navfor Atalanta operation since 2010 and performed duties in the Operation Command, as well as on ships in the operation area," the announcement states.
The Ministry said that the Croatian Navy expanded its participation in that operation in April 2017 by sending Independent Ship Protection Teams to merchant ships engaged for the needs of the UN World Food Program in the maritime area of the Horn of Africa. Ministry of Defense.
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