BOURBON ARGOS

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Latest news

Bourbon Argos rescued 27 migrants, 100 more missing

Around 100 migrants were feared drowned in the Mediterranean after a migrant dinghy capsized off Libya on Nov 16, 2016. 27 men now on board the "Bourbon Argos" were on board a boat carrying 130 people. They had clung to the deflated dinghy for hours before rescue arrived and were the only survivors. Along with the 27 survivors the "Bourbon Argos" also recovered seven bodies.

Refugee crisis: On the largest rescue ship in the Mediterranean as it battles to save lives

The Bourbon Argos is journeying towards what has become the deadliest sea crossing in the world, on a mission to save the lives of some of the hundreds of thousands of refugees continuing to risk their lives in desperate attempts to reach safety in Europe. The ship, run by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), is the largest humanitarian vessel patrolling the Mediterranean Sea, rescuing or transporting 8,534 migrants in the past six months alone. Read more at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/refugee-crisis-msf-syria-mediterranean-sea-deaths-rescue-ships-bourbon-argos-libya-operation-sophia-a7394021.html

Libyan navy admitted taking part in confrontation

The Libyan navy has admitted taking part in a confrontation with the "Bourbon Argos" in international waters off the coast of Libya, following days of speculation about who attacked it. A navy spokesman claimed that Libyan forces had approached the rescue boat, chartered by the aid group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), after its crew allegedly refused to identify themselves. But the navy denied that it had fired directly at the MSF boat, and claimed it did not board the boat itself. “A Libyan coastguard patrol was about 25 miles offshore. She observed an unidentified vessel to which the order was given to stop, but [the vessel] did not comply. We fired five warning shots. We did not storm the boat, we are categorical [about that]. And the patrol then returned to the coast. We informed Operation Sophia” – an EU naval operation based off the coast of Libya – “of this incident and we have opened an investigation. We are the Libyan coastguard and the boat should stop and identify themselves.” The Libyan navy’s claims are inconsistent with MSF’s account. The aid group said the attackers fired at least 13 bullets directly at its boat, some of which hit the ship’s bridge, or control room. MSF also said the attackers boarded the boat for approximately 50 minutes. The claims were further complicated by the fact that the "Bourbon Argos" has been working openly in international waters off the Libyan coast for over a year, rescuing tens of thousands of asylum seekers. Its activities have long been known to Libyan authorities, it is clearly branded with MSF’s logo, and its identity is visible on the automatic identification system (AIS) to which all ships and naval authorities have access.