The first AVPD Team send-off to ATALANTA
The Commander of the Croatian Navy, Rear admiral Robert Hranj and his staff on 11 December 2014 received the members of the first Croatian Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD) prior to its deployment to the ATALANTA operation.
The 12-member first Croatian AVPD Team, manned by 10 Navy members and one member of the Special Operations Battalion and of the Support Command respectively, is commanded by Lieutenant (N) Nenad Kontri.
The Team will be providing security and protection to the merchant ships within the World Food Programme off the coast of Somalia and the neighbouring countries supplying the local population. The team will operate onboard the vessels during navigation, at ports and at anchorage, providing security and protection for the vessels from pirate attacks, robberies and hijacks at sea and in ports.
The main authority for the mission is the Croatian Navy, whose members have successfully participated in ATALANTA for years already, at officer posts in the ATALANTA Headquarters in Northwood and aboard the ships deployed in the area.
Addressing the Team Rear admiral Hranj extended his wishes for successful completion of the mission and emphasised the importance of their security.
The final evaluation of the Team was administered within the HARPUN 14-II EXE conducted on 29 October 2014, ascertaining the Team capable of correct and timely response in any situation, in the tasks requiring the Night Vision Goggles and in assistance to the ship crew within the World Food Programme: The evaluation demonstrated the Team prepared for and capable of responding to any situation including the support to the WFP vessel combat resistance through fighting fire, water breakthrough and faults, using the night vision equipment (gogles).