Farewell to the German frigate FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
The German ship was part of the European task force since last September.
On the 16 December 2016, the German frigate FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern started heading towards her home base in Germany, after three months at sea within operation SOPHIA.
FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern fulfilled her duties in EUNAVFOR MED since 9 September 2016 and was fully involved in the counter illegal arms trafficking, as part of the EU contribution to the United Nations arms embargo, in accordance with the UNSCR 2292 (2016). Mecklenburg-Vorpommern carried on several friendly approaches to understand the pattern of life of the vessels transiting in the area of operation.
During her deployment, the German frigate conducted two rescue operations, saving the lives of 284 migrants in the Southern Central Mediterranean Sea, because saving lives at sea is both a moral and an international law obligation. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern also supported twice the Italian operation SOPHIA ship San Giorgio in some phases of the Libyan Navy Coast Guard and Libyan Navy training programme.
“I’m very proud of the work my crew did over the whole mission. It has been a pleasure to participate in operation SOPHIA” said the Commanding Officer of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Commander of the German Task Group ships taking part in EUNAVFOR MED. The German frigate will soon transit to her port base, in Wilhelmshaven. Yet the German FGS Main is taking over the duties as commander of the German contingent in operation SOPHIA.
Thus far, following EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia’s activities, 101-suspected smugglers and traffickers have been prosecuted by the Italian authorities and 366 boats were removed from the criminal organization availability. Nonetheless, more than 30900 lives were saved at sea.