NEWS / PRESS RELEASES

A group of 85 illegal immigrants, including a 9 month-old baby, was rescued early on Wednesday morning by the Armed Forces of Malta, the AFM reported in a statement.

 

They were intercepted in a position 97 nautical miles south-east of Malta before being rescued.

 

The immigrants were on a rubber dinghy, and claimed to have lost 5 members of their group who they ditched in the sea during their voyage.

 

It was on Tuesday afternoon at 1400CET when their case was signalled by MRCC Rome to the Armed Forces of Malta's Operations' Centre at Luqa Barracks. The AFM operated Vessel Traffic Service management station (VTS Malta) managed to divert the motor-tanker ‘Johann Schulte’ to assist the illegal migrants onboard the dinghy.

 

In the meantime, later in the afternoon, the FRONTEX-operated German border police Puma helicopter took-off from Luqa Airport at 1610CET to proceed to the rubber dinghy's location.  The helicopter-crew reported sighting the boat with infants onboard and individuals lacking life-jackets.

 

By 1725CET, the ‘Johann Schulte’ made contact with the illegal migrants, and provided some food and water, whilst the AFM maritime Squadron's Protector-class vessel P-51 was steaming at speed to their location.  A mid-sea transfer of the illegal migrants started at 0300CET. The party is reported to include 13 females and a 9-month old child.

 

P-51 is expected back in harbour at its home-berth of Haywharf Base later on Wednesday morning.

 

An extract from The Times of Malta online newspaper.