The Armed Forces of Malta’s Special Duties Enhanced Boarding Team, led by Lt Col Ian Ruggier and composed of three Officers and nineteen Other Ranks, returned to Malta on Tuesday morning after being deployed on an EU anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia for the last two months.

The Maltese soldiers were serving onboard the Dutch Navy warship HNLMS Johan de Witt as part of the EU Led Anti-Piracy mission codenamed EU NAV FOR ATALANTA. The Maltese contingent served as the sole Force Protection Team to the vessel and performed several board-and-search operations in the Gulf of Aden, deterring pirate attacks in the region.  

The AFM said that “for the third year running, the Maltese Team integrated very well with their Dutch counterparts and this experience not only improved the already existing military-to-military relationship but gave birth to new friendships between servicemen and women of both countries.”

The Maltese soldiers were welcomed by their families at the airport. They were also met by the Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, Brigadier Martin Xuereb, accompanied by Capt Jason Pisani, Officer Commanding ‘C’ Special Duties Company.

At the end of its deployment, the HNLMS Johan de Witt is expected to call at the Grand Harbour where a formal ceremony that will once again celebrate the close ties between the Armed Forces of Malta and Royal Netherlands Armed Forces will be held aboard. 

The AFM’s Special Duties Enhanced Boarding Team will now proceed on some days of well earned rest before returning back to their Unit.