FOURMENTIN

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Migrant rescued off Calais

In the morning of Feb 25, 2024, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that a migrant boat was in difficulty off the coast of Calais and deployed the 'Jacques Oudart Fourmentin' to check the condition of the boat. Once on scene, the crew noticed that there was only one person on board. The crew rescued the shipwrecked man. When it arrived at the dock at Boulogne-sur-Mer, he was taken care of by the land rescue services and the border police.

Patrol boat rescued 12 migrants

In the morning of Feb 8, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that a migrant boat was in difficulty off the coast of Wimereux and deployed the 'Jacques Oudart Fourmentin' to assist. The crew recovered 12 people from the boat. The rest of the people refused the assistance offered. Given the risks incurred by migrants in the event of restrictive actions to force them to board state rescue resources such as falling overboard, thermal shock, various trauma, it was decided to let them continue their voyage. In conjunction with the CROSS Gris Nez, surveillance was maintained by the patrol boat. When it arrived at the dock at Boulogne-sur-Mer, the rescued people were taken care of by the land rescue services and the border police. The maritime prefect of the Channel and the North Sea warns anyone who plans to cross the Channel about the risks involved. This maritime sector is one of the busiest areas in the world, with more than 600 commercial ships passing through it per day and the weather conditions are often difficult (120 days of wind greater than or equal to force 7 on annual average for example) , it is therefore a particularly dangerous sector, even when the sea seems beautiful.

Several migrant boats in distress in the Strait of Pas de Calais

in the night of Nov 11 and during the day of Nov 12, 2023, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that several migrant boats were in difficulty in the Strait of Pas de Calais. The 'Esvagt Charlie' was mobilized to the first boat in difficulty which was located by the Dunkirk semaphore. The crew of the 'Esvagt Charlie' picked up 21 people on board and dropped them off at the port of Dunkirk. in the morning of Nov 12, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that two migrants were adrift aboard a dinghy off the coast of Calais. The 'Abeille Normandie' was mobilized to assist and rescued the two people, who were dropped off at the port of Calais (62). In the middle of the day, the CROSS Gris-Nez deployed the 'Jacques Oudart Fourmenti' to assist another boat in difficulty. The customs boat picks up 15 people and dropped them off at the port of Calais. In the run of the day. Also the 'Apollo Moon', which was on patrol off the coast of Calais, was engaged in several assistance and rescue operations. In the night of Nov 11. the CROSS Gris-Nez mobilized the rescue ship to assist a boat in difficulty and picked up 60 people. One of the castaways fainted from hypothermia. He was quickly taken care of on board. The 'Apollo Moon' dropped off the 60 castaways at the port of Calai, where they were taken care of by the departmental fire and rescue service and the border police. In the foremidday the 'Apollo Moon' was once again engaged by the CROSS Gris-Nez to assist another boat in difficulty. The ship rescued tthe 15 people on board. In the middle of the day, the 'Apollo Moon' was mobilized to a third boat in difficulty and rescued 21 people. During this rescue operation, some migrants managed to restart the engine and refused to be recovered. Given the risks incurred when forcing them to board the ship, it was decided to let them continue their voyage. In connection with the CROSS Gris Nez, surveillance was maintained on this boat by the 'Esvagt Charlie'. At the end of the day, the 'Apollo Moon' headed towards the port of Calais with 36 people rescued on board. When they arrived at the dock, they were taken care of by the departmental fire and rescue service and the border police.