[SLIDESHOW] Maltese troops join Dutch anti-piracy mission off Somali coast

Families and colleagues bid a tearful goodbye to 22 highly-trained Maltese soldiers who this morning embarked on a pirate surveillance mission off the Somali coast.

Led by Lieutenant Colonel Ian Ruggier, the AFM soldiers were under rigorous training with the Dutch military for the past 18 months. With 24 years of service under his belt, Lt Col Ruggier boarded a Dutch landing craft for what was his first tour of duty on such a large scale.

The craft left the AFM Maritime Base at Haywharf to rendezvous with the HNLMS Johan de Witt currently moored at Hurd's Bank, about 18 miles off Malta.

The 22 Maltese troops will follow on with two days' training onboard the vessel while in Maltese waters. HNLMS Johan de Witt will then sail to Crete for additional training prior to heading for the Indian Ocean later in August. The mission, which forms part of the EU NAVFOR Atalanta, is an EU Naval Force Mission aimed to protect vulnerable ships from acts of piracy off the Somali coast and off Djibouti.

This is the third mission Malta is partaking in connection with the EU Naval Force.

Brigadier Martin Xuereb extended his greeting to his men and their families, reassuring them of the AFM's support especially during their tour of duty in Somalia.

Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia saluted the AFM soldiers. "The country is proud of you and your efforts. Through your actions and efforts you have honoured yourselves, the AFM and your country," Mallia said, expressing his gratitude and solidarity with the families of the deployment team thanking them for their support and understanding.

Dutch ambassador to Malta Robbert J. Gabriëlse also wished the soldiers luck, who will be providing support to the Dutch soldiers and will also replace a team of Dutch marines.

The AFM team is made of 20 officers from the 'C Special Duties' Company, a Lt Col from AFM HQ and an officer from the '3^rd Regiment' explosives ordinance division (EOD) who is also a combat medic. For the past 18 months the team has followed rigorous daily training in Malta and in Holland.

As families said their last goodbyes, and waved Maltese flags, the 22 AFM soldiers boarded the Dutch landing craft and left shore. They are expected back at the beginning of October.