ABEILLE NORMANDIE

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94 migrants rescued from three boats

On the night of July 29, the CROSS Gris-Nez was notified about the departure of several migrant boats from the coasts of Nord and Pas-de-Calais. First, a boat was reported leaving the Aa Canal in the middle of the night. The 'Minck' was deployed to monitor the boat. Once on site, the 'Minck' launched its operational drom boat (EDO). During the surveillance, several people on board the boat requested assistance. On the morning, the 'Minck's crew rescued a total of 33 people. The remaining occupants refused the offered assistance and continued on their way. On the foremidday, the rescued people were taken to the port of Calais and taken into care by the land authorities. At 3:00 a.m., another boat was reported departing from Dunkerque. The 'Abeille Normandie' was deployed by the CROSS to monitor the boat. Following an engine problem, several people from the boat requested assistance. The crew of the emergency tug launched an inflatable boat and rescued 23 people. The remaining occupants of the boat refused the offered assistance and continued on their way. All rescued people were taken to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Finally, on the morning, a third boat was spotted off the coast of Le Touquet. The CROSS deployed the 'ESMP 03' for surveillance. The 'ESMP 03' reported that the boat was taking on water and began rescuing the people. The CROSS broadcast a Mayday relay and engaged a Dauphin helicopter of the Navy base in Le Touquet as well as the lifeboat 'SNS076-Président Jacques Huret' from the Boulogne-sur-Mer SNSM station. A total of 36 people were rescued, including one with minor injuries. All rescued were immediately dropped off by the 'ESMP 03' on the beach at Dannes for treatment by the firefighters. The remaining occupants of the boat refused the offered assistance and continued on their way. During other coordinated operations throughout the day, two people were also rescued by the RIB 'SNS 7-034-Notre Dame des Sables' of the Berck-sur-Mer SNSM statio and the RIB 'Ouranos' of the Calais Gendarmerie. A total of 94 people were rescued and cared for by French maritime assistance and rescue resources.

107 migrants rescued in three missions

On July 17, the departure of a migrant boat was reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez at the mouth of the Authie River. The patrol boat 'Flamant';and the 'Abeille Normandie' as well as a Dauphin helicopter of the Navy base in Le Touquet were deployed and made contact with the boat. The 'Flamant' launched an operational docking boat (EDO) to monitor the migrant boat. On the evening it suffered an engine failure and requested assistance. The crew of the 'Flamant' took on board the 44 people and dropped them off at the port of Calais, where they were taken into care by government services. During the mid-afternoon, the 'Abeille Normandie' and the Dauphin helicopter were deployed to search the area for migrants stranded by the tide. The five were hoisted by the helicopter and taken nto care by the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service and the National Gendarmerie. Already late on July 18, 2025, the cROSS Gris-Nez was alerted to the departure of a migrant boat in the Equihen-Plage area. The 'Minck' and the lifeboat 'SNS 4013' from the Equihen Beach SNSM station were deployed to locate the boat. The 'Minck' launched its RIB to monitor the boat, which requested assistance. The 'Minck's crew took on board the 58 people, who were taken to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer and taken into care by government services.

83 migrants rescued by two ships

On the nigh of July 9 , numerous migrant boat departures were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez. First, in the middle of the night, the departure of a boat was reported to CROSS in the Dunkirk area, The 'Ridens' was deployed to monitor the boat. In response to a request for assistance from people on board the boat, the ÄRidens' recovered five people and continued to monitor the boat, which continued its voyage towards British waters, with the remaining occupants having refused all assistance. Subsequently, the 'Ridens' rescued another three migrants requesting assistance. The eight migrants were then disembarked in Calais in the mid-afternoon of July 10, where they were cared for by land-based rescue services. The 'ÄAbeille Normandie' was then deployed by the CROSS Gris-Nez to locate and monitor a boat reported in the Calais area. Once on site, the RIAS tug the poor condition of the boat, which was beginning to break up, and launched its two RIBs to assist the boat's occupants. The 'Abeille Normandie' rescued all 75 people and disembarkied them at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. where they were taken into care by land authorities. In total, as of July 10, 2025, 83 people were rescued and taken into care by government resources.