ABEILLE NORMANDIE

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Course/Position

Latest news

Several migrants rescued east of Calais

On the night of April 27, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed of a migrant boat leaving the Walde lighthouse area east of Calais and engaged the 'Cormoran' to locate and monitor the boat. During the night, its occupants requested assistance. The 'Cormoran' then rescued all 77 occupants of the boat and brought them back to the quay in Calais, where they were taken into care by land-based rescue services. On April 27, 2025, several migrant boat departures were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez, which initially deployed the operational drome boat (EDO) of the 'Cormoran' to locate a boat in the Wald lighthouse area. Once on site, the EDO made contact with the boat; a person on board requested assistance. The crew of the 'Cormoran' proceeded to recover this person. The remaining people of the boat refused all assistance and continued on their way. Following the assistance, the CROSS again engaged the 'Cormoran' to locate and monitor a migrant boat in the Grand Fort Philippe area. Once on site, all the boat's occupants requested assistance from the 'Cormoran'. The 19 people rescued by the 'Cormoran', as well as the man rescued earlier, were taken to the port of Calais and taken into care by the authorities on land. Mid-morning, the CROSS was once again informed of the departure of a boat north of Calais and engaged the 'Abeille Normandie to locate the boat. Once on site, the crew recovered the 29 people on board who were requesting assistance and took them to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, where they were taken into care by the authorities on land.

46 migrants rescued in two responses

On April 21, 2025, several migrant boat departures were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez, which initally deployed the PSP 'Cormoran', which was later relieved by the 'Abeille Normandie', to locate a boat in the Blériot beach area. Once on site, the emergenvy tug made contact with the boat, which appeared to be in difficulty. After investigation, the boat was found to be stopped due to an engine failure. The tug then recovered the 42 occupants of the boat before heading to Boulogne-sur-Mer to drop them off at the dock, where they were taken into care by the shore-based emergency services. At the same time, the CROSS engaged the 'Cormoran' to locate and assist a migrant boat in the Walde lighthouse area. Once there, four of the boat's occupants requested assistance from the patrol boat, which rescued them. The remaining occupantsof the migrant boat refused assistance and continued on their way, while their crossing was monitored. Once near Calais, the people rescued by the 'Cormoran' were taken into care by the patrol boat 'Platoon' of the Calais Maritime and Port Security. They were disembarked at the port of Calais and taken into care by the shore based authorities. In total, 46 people were recovered and taken into care by government resources.

30 migrants rescued in three responses

On the morning of April 15, numerous migrant boat departures were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez between the Walde Lighthouse and Dunkirk. The CROSS deployed several maritime rescue resources to monitor the boats. Initially, the CROSS Gris-Nez engaged the 'Abeille Normandie' to track a boat off the coast of Gravelines. The emergency tug quickly launched its RHIB to assist the occupants of the boat, which was experiencing engine difficulties, and rescued 11 people and brought them to the quay in Boulogne-sur-Mer. At the same time, the CROSS deployed the 'Cormoran' to conduct boat surveillance off the coast of Equihen. Upon arrival, the patrol boat launched its RHIB and made contact with the boat, some of whose occupants requested assistance. In total, the RHIB picked up 12 people and dropped them off at the quay in Boulogne-sur-Mer. Furthermore, the CROSS deployed another patrol boat, the 'Pluvier', to assist a boat in distress off the coast of Bleriot. Once the 'Pluvier' arrived on scene, some of the boat's occupants requested assistance. It picked up seven people on board and dropped them off in Calais. In total, 30 people were assisted and taken into care by the emergency services.