EU NAVFOR Force Commander Thanks Montenegrin Maritime Protection Team for Protection of World Food Programme Vessel MV Esbjerg as it Sails Along Coast of Somalia A key role for Operation Atalanta is to protect WFP ships as they travel along the coast to deliver food to the people of Somalia and over 1.3 million tonnes of food and other humanitarian aid protected by EU NAVOFR since 2008 has arrived safely in port BRUSSELS, Belgium, June 8, 2017/APO/ -- During ESPS Galicia’s counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia, EU NAVFOR’s Force Commander, Rear Admiral Rafael Fernández-Pintado Muñoz-Rojas, took the opportunity to visit the EU NAVFOR Montenegrin maritime protection team that is currently on board the World Food Programme (WFP) ship, MV Esbjerg. A key role for Operation Atalanta is to protect WFP ships as they travel along the coast to deliver food to the people of Somalia and over 1.3 million tonnes of food and other humanitarian aid protected by EU NAVOFR since 2008 has arrived safely in port. The presence of the Montenegrin Maritime Protection Team on board MV Esbjerg also provides much-needed reassurance to the crew. If pirates were to attack their ship, they will be protected by EU NAVFOR and remain safe. Distributed by APO on behalf of EUNAVFOR Atalanta.