First Croatian AVPD Team Evaluated
The first Croatian Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD), to be deployed to the EU NAVFOR SOMALIA – OPERATION ATALANTA by the end of 2014, underwent the final evaluation in the Lora Navy Port from 28 to 31 July 2014.
The unit responsible for the evaluation was the Croatian Navy, whose members have been successfully performing the officer duties in the Operation ATALANTA Headquarters and aboard the vessels off the Somali coast for years.
The evaluation was conducted in the «Sveti Nikola» Barracks and aboard the Faust Vrančić” salvage ship at sea. The evaluation was structured around possible situations, such as pirats attacking in small fast boats, medical flights evacuating patients and rescue of the drowned persons. Night time tasks were performed using the Night Vision Goggles. The dynamic and demanding programme was co-ordinated by the Croatian Navy, the evaluators of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence, of the Support Command and of the Special Operations Battalion.
The chief evaluator, Colonel Mijo Kožić praised the highly demanding and excellently conducted preparations and the high level of demonstrated skills and readiness: “As first Croatian AVPD Team, you are embarking on a new operation for the Croatian Armed Forces and can be proud of the level achieved and the readiness demonstrated during the evaluation procedure”.
The AVPD teams are armed military teams operating within the EU NAVFOR SOMALIA – OPERATION ATALANTA, aboard the merchant vessels sailing within the World Food Programme off the coast of Somalia and the neighbouring countries delivering humanitarian relief and food to the population. The military teams operate aboard vessels during the navigation, in the ports and at anchorage, assigned with the security and protection of the vessels from the pirats attacks and robbery at sea, as well as with deterrence and prevention.
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