News

The US Coast Guard returned 47 migrants to the Dominican Republic between Oct 24 and Oct 27, following three separate interdictions of migration voyages in Mona Passage waters near Puerto Rico. Ten of the interdicted migrants remained in U.S. custody to face federal prosecution by the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico on a range of separate charges including attempted reentry into the United States under 8 U.S.C. 1326, unlawful entry into the United States under 8 U.S.C. 1325, and failure to heave to under 18 U.S.C. 2237. The first of the three interdictions occurred onm Oct. 23, when the crew of the CG 'Joseph Napier' stopped a 26-foot makeshift vessel, after a maritime patrol aircraft had sighted the suspect vessel in waters north of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The crew embarked all seven migrants, including six men and a woman, who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals. Six of the migrants from this case were repatriated to the Dominican Republic, while one other migrant awaiting prosecution was transferred to U.S. Border Patrol custody, Oct. 24. The second interdiction occurred, on the morning of Oct 25, after a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft sighted a 25-foot makeshift vessel south of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan diverted the 'Paul Clark' again to interdict the vessel. Once on scene, tthe small boat crew gained positive control of the suspect vessel. Following the interdiction, the 'Paul Clark' safely embarked 17 men and six women who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals. Nineteen migrants from this case were repatriated to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel off Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, while four others awaiting prosecution were transferred to U.S. Border Patrol custody in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Oct 27. The third interdiction occurred on the afternoon of Oct 26, after the crew of a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft sighted a suspect makeshift vessel transiting southwest of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan diverted the 'Paul Clark' to carry out the interdiction. Once on scene, the Over the Horizon boat was deployed in pursuit of the suspect vessel. Shortly thereafter, the Coast Guard boat stopped the vessel and embarked 27 migrants, 22 men and five women, of which 24 claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals and three others claimed to be Haitian. 22 migrants from this case were repatriated to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel just off Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on Oct 27, while five others awaiting prosecution were transferred to U.S. Border Patrol custody in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, on Oct 28. Report with photos: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3949234/coast-guard-repatriates-47-migrants-to-dominican-republic-following-3-at-sea-in/

On Oct 28, a cayuco, with 71 people of sub-Saharan origin on board, was spotted near the Maspalomas beach. Salvamento Marítimo mobilized the 'Salvamar Macondo' to assist, which accompanied the boat to Arguineguín, where the migrants disembarked.

The US Coast Guard returned 47 migrants to the Dominican Republic between Oct 24 and Oct 27, following three separate interdictions of migration voyages in Mona Passage waters near Puerto Rico. Ten of the interdicted migrants remained in U.S. custody to face federal prosecution by the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico on a range of separate charges including attempted reentry into the United States under 8 U.S.C. 1326, unlawful entry into the United States under 8 U.S.C. 1325, and failure to heave to under 18 U.S.C. 2237. The first of the three interdictions occurred onm Oct. 23, when the crew of the CG 'Joseph Napier' stopped a 26-foot makeshift vessel, after a maritime patrol aircraft had sighted the suspect vessel in waters north of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The crew embarked all seven migrants, including six men and a woman, who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals. Six of the migrants from this case were repatriated to the Dominican Republic, while one other migrant awaiting prosecution was transferred to U.S. Border Patrol custody, Oct. 24. The second interdiction occurred, on the morning of Oct 25, after a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft sighted a 25-foot makeshift vessel south of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan diverted the 'Paul Clark' again to interdict the vessel. Once on scene, tthe small boat crew gained positive control of the suspect vessel. Following the interdiction, the 'Paul Clark' safely embarked 17 men and six women who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals. Nineteen migrants from this case were repatriated to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel off Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, while four others awaiting prosecution were transferred to U.S. Border Patrol custody in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Oct 27. The third interdiction occurred on the afternoon of Oct 26, after the crew of a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft sighted a suspect makeshift vessel transiting southwest of Mona Island, Puerto Rico. Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan diverted the 'Paul Clark' to carry out the interdiction. Once on scene, the Over the Horizon boat was deployed in pursuit of the suspect vessel. Shortly thereafter, the Coast Guard boat stopped the vessel and embarked 27 migrants, 22 men and five women, of which 24 claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals and three others claimed to be Haitian. 22 migrants from this case were repatriated to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel just off Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on Oct 27, while five others awaiting prosecution were transferred to U.S. Border Patrol custody in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, on Oct 28. Report with photos: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3949234/coast-guard-repatriates-47-migrants-to-dominican-republic-following-3-at-sea-in/

On the early morning of Oct 29, 2024, the 'Odyssey-FR 70', with six crew members on board, started sinking in the North Sea, approximately 140 miles east of the Firth of Forth. The Coastguard in Aberdeen received a distress signal at around 5.30 a.m. this morning. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) quickly sent out an alert to the surrounding ships in the area and asked for assistance. The Coastguard also requested that the nearest rescue helicopter be dispatched as a stand-by should further efforts become necessary. A nearby fishing vessel immediately responded to the distress signal and set course for the "Odyssey's" position. The crew was transferred via a life raft onto the trawler and were safe and without injuries. The cause of the sinking of the "Odyssey" was still unknown, The relevant authorities have been notified and will further investigate the case.

The 'Tjøtta', operating on the route Forvik-Tjøtta, had to cancel its sailings on Oct 29, 2024, due to technical issueswith gear.. As a replacement, the shuttle boat 'Flesa' was inserted between Minland and Tjøtta according to the regular timetable for the local route until further notice also on Oct 30. The shuttle boat, howver, only takes passengers. The ferry 'Sigrid' on the direct route calls at Tro and Stokkasjøen on certain departures. On Oct 30 at 6 a.m. UTC the ''Tjøtta' sailed from the port of Tjøtta to a shipyard in Sandnessjøen, where it arrived at 7.30 a.m. for permanent repairs.