ABEILLE NORMANDIE

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103 migrants rescued in several missions

On April 13, 2024, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that several migrant boats were in difficulty in the Strait of Pas-de-Calais. In the morning, a boat was reported in difficulty off Bray Dunes. The CROSSmobilized the 'MinckÄ' to assist, which took on bioard 33 people . Several people still on board the boat refused the assistance offered by French means and continued on their way. The people rescued by the 'Minck' were then dropped off at the dock in Calais (62). Later in the morning, the CROSS Gris-Nez mobilized the 'Armoise' to a boat in difficulty off the coast of Wissant. The crew of the Armoise launched their zodiac and recovered three people. Several people still on board the boat refused the assistance offered by French means and continued on their way. The people picked up by the 'Armoise' were then dropped off at the dock in Boulogne-sur-Mer In total, 36 people were rescued by French means during the day. Also on April 14, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that several migrant boats were in difficulty in the Strait of Pas-de-Calais. In the morning, a boat was reported in difficulty off Grand Fort Philippe. The CROSS Gris-Nez mobilized the 'Minck', which rescued 32 people from the boat. Several people still on board the boat refused the assistance offered by French means and continued on their way. The people rescued by the 'Minck' werre then dropped off at the dock in Calais. Later in the morning, the CROSS Gris-Nez mobilized the 'Abeille Normandie' to a boat in difficulty off the coast of Grand Fort Philippe. The crew picked up 35 people. Several people still on board the boat refused the assistance offered by French means and continued on their way. The people picked up by the 'Abeille Normandie' were then dropped off at the dock in Boulogne-sur-Mer All castaways were taken care of by the land rescue services and the border police. In total, 67 people were rescued by French means during the day.

53 migrants rescued off Oye-Plage

In the night of March 26 the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that a migrant boat was in difficulty off the coast of Oye-Plage and deployed the 'Abeille Normandie' to assist. The crew of the emergency tug noticed that the boat had an engine failure and launcehd two semi-rigid boats which recovered 53 people. They were dropped off at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, where they were taken care of by shore based rescue teams and the border police.

Several rescue missions in Strait of Pas-de-Calais

On March 20, 2024, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that several migrant boats were in difficulty in the Strait of Pas-de-Calais. In the middle of the night, the CROSS Gris-Nez deployed the 'Ridens' as a rescue ship chartered by the State, to assist a boat in difficulty off the coast of Gravelines. Once on scene, the 'Ridens' noticed that the boat had suffered an engine failure, but initially the castaways refused to be rescued. A few hours later, 23 people requested assistance. The 'Ridens' then took them on board. Several people still on board the boat continued to refuse the assistance offered by French ship and continued on their way after having managed to restart the engine. Given the risks in the event of restrictive actions to force them to board state rescue resources such as falling overboard, thermal shock, various trauma, the choice was made to let them continue their voyage. In connection with the CROSS Gris Nez, surveillance was maintained on this boat by on-site resources. The castaways rescued by the 'Ridens' were then dropped off at the dock at the port of Dunkirk in the middle of the day. Later in the night, the CROSS Gris-Nez engaged the emergency tug 'Abeille Normandie', chartered by the French Navy, to assist another migrant boat off the coast of Sangatte. The crew rescued 64 people before being tasked to assist a second boat in difficulty in the same sector. Once on scene in th earlye morning, several people, including women and young children, asked for assistance. The tug rescued 25 people, but other people still on board again refused to be rescued by French means. In connection with the CROSS Gris Nez, surveillance was maintained on the boat by on-site resources. At the start of the afternoon, the 89 people rescued by the the 'Abeille Normandie' were disembarked at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer and taken care of by rescue services and the border police. A little earlier in the day, the patrol ship 'Jeanne Barret' was deployed by the CROSS to rescue a sick person on board a migrant boat. The latter, whose state of health was stable, was taken care of on board the 'Jeanne Barret' and then dropped off at the port of Calais.