The Johan de Witt and one of its landing craft.
Times of Malta
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
The army will be deploying a Special Duties Enhanced Boarding Team
made up of three officers and 19 personnel in other ranks from the 1
Regiment’s C (Special Duties) Company on board the Dutch Navy’s Johan De
Witt.
The deployment, which shall form part of the exercise EU Navfor
Atalanta, shall be made tomorrow and will last until September 27.
The role of the operation is to deter piracy and armed robbery off
the coast of Somalia with a view to strengthen the security within the
area of operations.
Specific roles include:
* The protection of World Food Program vessels delivering aid to
displaced persons in Somalia, and the protection of African Union
Mission on Somalia shipping. The protection of vulnerable shipping off
the Somali coast on a case by case basis; and
* The monitoring of fishing activities off the coast of Somalia.