An Armed Forces of Malta Special Duties Enhanced Boarding Team (SDEBT) made up of three Officers and 19 Other Ranks are currently on deployment off the coast of Somalia on an EU anti-piracy mission.
This is the third time that the AFM is participating with troops as part of EU NAVFOR Atalanta off the coast of Somalia.
The EU is one of the international actors contributing to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions, which urge states to increase and coordinate their efforts to deter acts of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia.
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.
Via: http://gozonews.com/
