Operation SOPHIA Force Commander welcomes the Belgium ship Louise Marie
On the 26 of November, EUNAVFOR MED Force Commander, Rear Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto visited the Belgium ship Louise Marie, part of operation SOPHIA since few days.
Ten members of his staff first arrived on board and then gave the crew a short briefing regarding the operation and what awaits the Belgium ship in the coming weeks.
After the briefing, the Force Commander arrived together with his Chief of Staff and flag officer.
They received a short briefing about our frigate BNS Louise-Marie, including her capacities and capabilities. At noon, the Force Commander, his chief of staff, the Belgian staff officers and the flag officer had lunch in the captain’s stateroom, before commencing the tour of the ship. Indeed, the new sensors the ship installed in 2014 impressed the Force Commander.
EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA’s core mission is to disrupt the business model of human traffickers and smugglers, no less, saving life at sea is both a moral and international law obligation. Thus far, in fact, following EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia’s activities, 101-suspected smugglers and traffickers have been prosecuted by the Italian authorities and 349 boats have been prevented from being re-used by smugglers.