Boarding Team returns from the Mediterranean

At the end of the month, the Finnish Navy's Boarding Team's third, and at the same time final rotation will return to Finland from EUNAVFORMED operation SOFIA in the Mediterranean.

The mission of European Union-led Operation SOPHIA is to prevent migrant smugglers and traffickers from operating in the Mediterranean. During the operation, this mission has included destroying hundreds of vessels used by traffickers as well as detaining persons involved in human trafficking. Also a significant number of people in distress at sea have been rescued.

Participation in the Boarding Team has brought visibility for the Finnish Navy - especially the Finns' know-how and their ability to successfully carry out tasks given to them has received attention. The Finnish Boarding Team has been the only unit capable of boarding tasks solely at the operation's disposal, and has therefore been very busy.

- The Boarding Team has received valuable experience from the international operating environment and has thus developed its own know-how. Participation directly supports the readiness of boarding teams and troop production, and the Navy can use lessons learned in the operation in its own training, says Navy Chief of Staff, Commodore Timo Hirvonen.

The Finns' capability and efficiency in boardings has received special commendation. The Finns have also participated in tasks involving protection and air and sea rescue, and their know-how has been put to good use in detecting and detaining human traffickers.

- Feedback on the actions of the Boarding Team has been excellent. This shows that the Navy is capable of contributing to an international operation with its own special know-how. This success is proof of the commitment and skill of each team member, our reservists included. This is something we must continue to maintain also in the future, Hirvonen emphasizes.

Operation SOPHIA continues, and this summer, the EU Council added two supporting tasks to the operation's mandate - training the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy and monitoring the implementation of the UN arms embargo. Finland's Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy has not yet made a decision on Finnish participation in these supporting tasks. With the repatriation of the Boarding Team, only a few officers and NCOs from Finland currently participate in monitoring and HQ duties in Operation SOPHIA.