Multiple rescue operation at sea for EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia
The life of more than 500 migrant was saved today November 5th, thanks to the coordinated intervention of 5 EUNAVFOR MED Force units.
Early in the morning 2 air assets, the Spanish Orion P3 and the Luxembourgian SW3 Merlin III “Seagull” aircrafts, spotted 3 overcrowded boats, 1 fishing vessel and 2 skiffs.
The European mission Flagship, ITS Cavour, as requested by the competent Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), coordinated the operations involving 3 ships from its Task Force fleet, the Belgian Leopold I, the British Richmond and the Slovenian Triglav. The transfer onboard was concluded in the afternoon.
The Leopold I, with 258 migrants onboard, sailed towards the Sicilian harbor of Augusta while Triglav and Richmond transferred the migrants (respectively 76 and 134) onboard an Italian Coast Guard Vessel.
In 4 months, the Operation Sophia’s assets have been involved in 24 rescue operations contributing to save more than 5000 lives, in fully respect of the International Law of the Sea and the Refugee Conventions.
Launched on 22nd of June 2015, EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia supports the EU efforts to disrupt the business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks in the Central Mediterranean.