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Several boats in difficulty off Pas-de-Calais
On April 27 the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that some migrant boats were in difficulty off the coast of Pas-de-Calais. At around 3:00 a.m., the CROSS deployed the 'Abeille Normandie' to check the situation on board a migrant boat, detected by the semaphore, which had stopped off the coast of Boulogne with 10 people on board. The tug launched the semi-rigid, which recovered the castaways who were dropped off on a pontoon at the marina of Boulogne-sur-Mer, where they were taken care of at the end of the night by the land rescue services and the border police. Shortly after, the 'Abeille Normandie' was again engaged by the CROSS Gris-Nez to assist another migrant boat reported in difficulty off the coast of Cap-Blanc-Nez and rescued 33 people. Several people still on board the boat refused the assistance offered by French means and continued their journey under appropriate surveillance. The people picked up by the 'Abeille Normandie' were dropped off at the dock in Boulogne-sur-Mer and taken care of by the shore based rescue services and the border police. In the middle of the day, a third migrant boat was reported in difficulty in the Canche Bay. The CROSS Gris-Nez deployed the 'Minck' to assist. Once on scene, the crew informed the CROSS that there were around 50 people on board and that three people were already in the water and that one of the tubes of the boat was punctured. The 'Minck' launched its semi-rigid boat to rescue the people. The CROSS also tasked the Coastguard launch 'DF37-Nordet', the BSAM 'Rhône' and the VCSM 'Maroni' to support the 'Minck' in the rescue operation. The 'Nordet' was the closest and arrived quickly. The 'Minck' indicates to the CROSS that the boat remained afloat despite the puncture and continued the recoveries with the support of the 'Nordet'. The recoveries took place quite quickly, and the CROSS disengaged the other ships to keep them at sea in other maritime sectors. 45 minutes after the start of recovery operations, 56 people were treated on board the 'Minck', including one person with a slight knee injury. All migrants were disembarked at Boulogne-sur-mer and taken care of at the dock.
Five migrants died during canal crossing despite large SAR operation
On April 23 at 6:00 a.m. LT, a migrant boat set sail in the Wimereux sector. Around 6:23 a.m., the heavily loaded boat seemed to be in difficulty a few hundred meters from the beach after passing a sandbank. Its engine had stopped, and two people fell into the water near the boat. The CROSS Gris Nez mobilized the 'Abeille Normandie' and the Minck' to rescue the two shipwrecked people. The semi-rigid boats of both ships were quickly launched. Arriving on site, the 'Abeille Normandie' rescued the two shipwrecked people. They indicated that several people appeared inanimate and in great difficulty aboard the drifting migrant boat after passing over the sandbank. The number of people on board was estimated at more than 100. The tug thereupon launched two more semi-rigid boats and the CROSS also deployed the SNSM boat of Boulogne-sur-Mer as reinforcement to. The semi-rigid of the 'Abeille Normandie' rescued on board two castaways and three inanimate people as well as a relative of an inanimate person. These people were underwent medical consultation. The semi-rigid then returned to the boat and collected two other inanimate people who were dropped off on the beach of Wimereux, where a major rescue system is put in place by the civil protection, the SDIS62 and the SAMU to take care of them. The three inanimate people and an accompanying person also disembarked from the tug towards Wimereux beach for treatment ashore. After several return trips, 48 people were finally rescued by the semi-rigid boats of the two ships and taken board the tug . Among them were two slightly injured, who were then evacuated by the SNSM boat and disembarked in Boulogne-sur-Mer. Despite the delicate situation, 58 people still on board the migrant boat refused to be rescued by the French resources. After various attempts, they managed to restart the engine of their boat and continued their crossing to Great Britain. The CROSS tasked the patrol boat 'Armoise' to ensure appropriate surveillance. At around 9:00 a.m., 48 people were taken care of on board the 'Abeille Normandie', before being disembarked at the quayside at the port of Boulogne, including two ahead of schedule by the SNSM boat. Some people had minor injuries, and care was coordinated at the dock in Boulogne. Among the six people quickly treated on Wimereux beach, five could not be resuscitated. The fatalities included three men, a woman and the young girl.
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.
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