The 12-member 4^th Croatian Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD) protecting the vessels within the World Food Programme was sent off to the PSO EU NAVFOR ATALANTA in Somalia on 20 June 2020.

The 4^th AVPD Team has concluded the months-long training and preparations, ending in the exercise conducted in the “Admiral flote Sveto Letica-Barba” in Split and in the central Adriatic aquatory on 10 and 11 March 2020, in which the Team displayed top trainedness and readiness for the mission.

An enthusiastic and motivated

Meeting the members of the Team ahead of their departure to Somalia, the Commander of the Croatian Navy Rear Admiral Ivo Raffanelli appreciated their commitment during the pre-deployment training and emphasised: “The preparations were solid, you have proved your expertise and capabilities and you are going to fulfil the mission assigned in the best possible way”.

The Commander of the 4^th AVPD Team Lieutenant Commander Sergej Kozmi extended appreciation for the trust invested in the Team and underlined the value of the experienced team members and of the enthusiasm and motivation of the Team.

AVPD teams are military formations engaged within the EU-led peace support operation EU NAVFOR ATALANTA, and are deployed aboard the merchant vessels transporting humanitarian assistance and food to the population within the World Food Programme (WFP) off the coast of Somalia.

The mission of the AVPD Team, aboard the vessel during voyage, in ports and anchorage, is to prevent, deter and repress piracy and armed robbery at sea

Croatian Navy members have taken part in EU NAVFOR ATALANTA for years, exercising staff officer duties in the Operational Headquarters in Northwood and aboard the vessels in the area of operations –  the first AVPD team was deployed to Somalia in 2014.

Croatian version:

4. AVPD tim upućen u Somaliju