Mission: save human lives

The Crew of the “Andrija Mohorovičić” Training Ship of the Croatian Navy completed a three-month deployment in the EU-led joint Operation “Triton“. It was assigned with border control and rescuing of migrants. On their return the Ship’s commander, Commander Stjepan Giljević told the reporter of […]

The Crew of the “Andrija Mohorovičić” Training Ship of the Croatian Navy completed a three-month deployment in the EU-led joint Operation “Triton“. It was assigned with border control and rescuing of migrants. On their return the Ship’s commander, Commander Stjepan Giljević told the reporter of the “Hrvatski vojnik“ magazine that during the period over 2500 lives were saved in united efforts of the Operation participants.   

It has been a first time a Croatian Navy ship took part in an international operation, and under Your command.  How does that feel? 

Commanding the crew that rescued over 2500 human lives is absolutly an extraordinary and memorable experience, of which I am highly proud. The crew’s performance has made it easier to exercise command and bear the responsibility.   

Had you been well-prepared for the challenges of the mission?

We were stunned at first by the intensity of the flow of migrants in our area of responsibility. 

Although we had been briefed thoroughly on the flow of migrants and updated on the situation in the operation theatre, there was an increased influx along the eastern Mediterranean route. The crew, which consisted in a larger part of experienced seamen and top professionals capable of adapting to new and unpredictable scenarios, conveyed the sense of security on the younger members, did function as a cohesive and effcient team. 

What were the tasks assigned to the crew in the Operation Triton and did any unpredictable situations occur? 

Our daily task was to patrol along the external border of the zone. Upon the detection of the position of the vessels with the migrants in distress, detected by direct observation or acquired by an aircraft and signalled from the Operation Headquarters, the Ship headed towards the spot at maximal speed and launched rescue operation. The rescued mirants were provided care aboard the Ship and transported to the port of debarcation, where they were taken care of by the respective services in charge.

We had prepared for every rescue engagement as if it was to be the hardest; dispatching a team assigned with embarking the vessels carrying the migrants was highly demanding and risky, as we didn’t know what to expect; fortunately we encountered no resistance from the migrants, but we were engaged in extremely hard, lengthy and exhausting rescue operations. We were engaged, for example, in rescue episodes lasting for hours, at night and under adverse maritime conditions. Rescuing  the migrants, who reached us in alarming physical and psychological condition,  was an extremely hard task. It took a great deal of patience, psychological stability, stamina and humanity, all of which were demonstrated by the crew, to a great pride of the Croatian  Navy and the Croatian citizens.  

Aboard “Andrija Mohorovičić“ with you were also five members of the Border Police of the Ministry of the Interior. What was the co-operation between the two components like? 

We had aboard the ship the members of the Border Police of the Ministry of the Interior and one officer assigned to the International Co-ordination Centre (ICC) located in Rome.  We have had an excellent co-operation, as they were professionals with the years-long working experience, combined with the earlier  experience from the Operation “ Poseidon Sea“ in Greece, which helped them adapt to the operation aboard the ship. 

We took the opportunity to learn from each other, taking into consideration our respective differences and the approach to our daily tasks. The Operation Triton has been an extension of the successful co-operation of the two ministries. 

What was the communication and the co-operaton with the ship commanders of other participant nations? 

We were engaged in rescue operations alongside the crews of other participants (Italy, United Kingdom, Sweden) the air force crews from Portugal, the Netherlands and on several occasions the merchant ships crews – all top professionals with whom we have had excellent co-operation, which was most useful for me professonally, as a Navy officer. Some of the participants had been engaged in the operations of the kind for quite a long time, dealing with the migrants, and their experience has been valuable. 

Would you and the crew members take part in an operation of the kind again?

I definitely would, as I have already said in an interview, and I am sure the entire crew would take part too. The Operation “Triton“ has a humanitarian character, we were saving human lives, and that is staying in our minds and hearts for the rest of our lives.