SNS 087

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107 migrants rescued in numerous interventions

During the night of Dec 24, numerous departures of migrant boats were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez between Dieppe and Leffrinckoucke. Very early in the morning, the CROSS engaged the 'SNS 087 Jean Bart II' of the SNSM and the 'Abeille Normandie' to monitor a migrant boat, some of whose occupants were requesting assistance off the coast of the Dunkirk sector. The tug initially went to the scene, but was quickly re-engaged on another operation, the 'SNS 087', once on site, took over the surveillance, went to contact the boat and gradually recovered 30 people requesting to be rescued. The rest of the occupants of the boat were taken care of by British resources once they arrived in British waters. The boat then headed towards the port of Dunkirk, where the 30 rescued migrantss were taken care of by the onshore services. At the same time, off the coast of Dunkirk, another attempt to cross the strait was reported to the CROSS, which engaged the 'SNS 077-Notre-Dame du Risban' and the 'Abeille Normandie' to ensure close monitoring of the boat. Initially, the SNSM boat went to the scene to assist the migrant boat, which first refused assistance. Later, the migrant boat was reported to be in difficulty due to an engine failure. The 'Abeille Normandie' took over from the 'SNS 077' and rescued 51 people. After this first recovery, the CROSS engaged the 'Abeille Normandie' in another surveillance operation reported at the Walde Lighthouse Arriving on site, the tug reported that the occupants wanted to be rescued, launched its semi-rigid boat and rescued 26 people. All migrants were dropped off at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. In total, 107 people were rescued.

155 migrants rescued in several missions

On Oct 18, several departures of migrant boats were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez, which deployed hired the PSP 'Flamant' to check the situation in the Calais sector. Once on site, the crew launched their boat and picked up three people on board who were requesting assistance. Several people still on board the boat refused the assistance offered by French resources. The 'Flamant' resumed its surveillance mission. The castaways were then transferred to the lifeboat 'SNS 077 – Notre-Dame du Risban' from the SNSM station in Calais and dropped off at the quayside in Calais, On the morning, another boat was reported to have left off Gravelines The CROSS Gris-nez initially engaged the port security boat 'ESMP 03' from the maritime and port security platoon (PSMP) of Dunkirk of the maritime gendarmerie to relocate the boat. Once on site, it noted that the boat was heavily loaded and ensured its surveillance while the boat continued on its way. The ESMP crew reported to the CROSS that the boat had an engine failure and that the 70 migrants on board were requesting assistance. The CROSS engaged the 'SNS 276 Notre-Dame des Flandres' and the 'SNS 087 Jean Bart II' as well as a second boat from the PSMP of Dunkirk. All the people on board the boat were recovered by the resources in the area and were then dropped off at the quayside in Dunkirk. At the end of the afternoon, a third boat was reported off the coast of Calais. The CROSS initially engaged the 'Minck' to relocate the boat. Once on site, the crew noticed that the boat was heavily loaded and ensured its surveillance while the boat continued on its way. Initially, the migrants on board refused assistance. During the surveillance, the people on board agreed to be rescued. The 'Minck' reported two people in the water, who were quickly recovered by the crew. At the same time, the CROSS engaged the nearby British Coastguard vessel 'BF Defender' for assistance and rescue. The 'Minck' recovered 36 people on board and the 'BF Defender' 46 people. All castaways were dropped off at the quayside in Calais , where the 155 rescued people were taken care of by the land rescue services and the border police.

54 migrants rescued off Dunkirk

In the night of Aug 12, 2023, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that a migrant boat seemed to be in difficulty about ten kilometers off Calais. After having been able to locate the boat with the assistance of merchant ships, the CROSS Gris-Nez deployed the 'SNS 276-Notre Dame des Flandres' from Gravelines and the 'SNS 087-Jean Bart II' from Dunkirk to provide assistance. Once in the area, the 'Notre Dame des Flandres' was engaged in another operation, and the 'Jean Bart II' recovered the 54 castaways and dropped them off at the port of Dunkirk.