ABEILLE NORMANDIE

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62 migrants rescued, one recovered dead

On the night of May 18, the departure of a migrant boat was reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez, which deployed the 'Abeille Normandie' to monitor the boat. During the monitoring, the overloaded boat broke up. The CROSS immediately broadcast a Mayday Relay message, and the tug crew launched three speedboats to rescue the occupants. The vessel was supported by British assets: the lifeboat 'RNLI 13-07' ((MMSI: 235106574)) from Dungeness, the Border Force patrol boat 'Ranger' (MMSI: 232696000) and a British aircraft present in the area, which responded to the CROSS message. At the same time, the CROSS deployed the French Navy's Dauphin helicopter based in Le Touquet with a medical team from the SMUR maritime de Boulogne-sur-Mer pm bpard- Once on site, the Dauphin hoisted the medical team aboard the 'Abeille Normandie' and searched for any other survivors. The tug's crew rescued 50 people, the RNLI's resources rescued two people, and the 'Ranger' rescued nine people. All castaways were transferred aboard the 'Abeille Normandie'. During its search of the area, the helicopter located an unresponsive person in the water. The RNLI's resources recovered and transferred him aboard the tug, where he was treated and declared deceased by the medical team. Among those rescued were a child and his mother. who were suffering from hypothermia and medevaced by the Dauphin helicopter to Boulogne-sur-Mer hospital, where they were treated. The rescued migrants were dropped off at Boulogne-sur-Mer dock and taken into care by shore based rescue services. A total of 62 people were rescued and taken into care by government services. Two of these people were airlifted to Boulogne-sur-Mer hospital, and one person died.

338 migrants rescued alive, one died

On May 11, several migrant boat departures were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez Regional in the Strait of Dover (62). The CROSS deployed several rescue resources to monitor all the boats. Shortly after the departures, several boats encountered difficulties and requested assistance. Initially, in the morning, a boat was reported in the Malo-Les-Bains area. The CROSS initially deployed the BSAM 'Rhône' for surveillance. Some of the migrants on the overloaded boat requested assistance, and some jumped overboard. The CROSS then engaged the 'VB Puissant' and the Dunkirk Maritime and Port Security boat 'ESMP 04' for the rescue. The 'VB Puissant' rescued 22 people, including several injured, and the 'Rhône', with the assistance of the maritime gendarmerie boat, assisted 23 migrants. The remaining people on the migrant boat refused assistance and continued on their way. Once dropped off at the dock in Dunkirk, the 45 migrants were taken into care by the land authorities. At the same time, a second boat was reported in the Dunkirk area. The CROSS engaged the 'Minck' for surveillance. Once on site, 23 people requested assistance. The remaining occupants of the migrant boat refused all assistance and continued on their way. Once dropped off at the dock in Calais, the 23 people were taken into care by rescue services on land. During the night of May 11, a boat departing from Hardelot was monitored by the patrol vessel 'Thémis'. During the surveillance, the boat broke up following the loss of the transom where the engine was attached. The CROSS also deployed the ''Abeille Normandie' and a Dauphin helicopter, along with a medical team from the Boulogne-sur-Mer maritime emergency medical service. 13 people were rescued by the 'Thémis', including one person declared dead by the SMUR doctor. The 'Abeille Normandie' recovered the remaining people from the boat. A total of 68 people (including several injured) were taken to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. During the night, all occupants from another boat requested assistance and were picked up by the 'Ridens'. The 56 rescued people were taken to Boulogne. A total of 192 people were rescued and cared for by government resources. Among them, one person died. On May 1, 2025, the CROSS Gris-Nez coordinated assistance after a boat carrying 45 people was reported by the 'ESMP 04' departing from the port of Dunkirk. The 'Abeille Normandie' was engaged by the CROSS, then relieved by the 'Jacques Oudart Fourmentin' Three of the boat's occupants were rescued and brought ashore in Boulogne-sur-Mer by the patrol boat. At the same time, a second boat carrying 76 people was reported departing from Dunkirk at around 6:00 a.m. The 'Minck' notified the CROSS of the need to monitor the overloaded boat. The lifeboat 'SNS276-Notre-Dame des Flandres' was then engaged by the CROSS and was relieved by the 'Armoise' of the Maritime Gendarmerie. which rescued all occupants of the boat following an engine failure. The patrol boat reported one person requiring medical assistance among those rescued. A conference call was then established with the Maritime Medical Coordination Emergency Medical Service in Le Havre. Once docked in Calais, the 76 people were taken care of by land authorities and the injured person by firefighters. Finally, a boat carrying 68 people was reported at 6 a.m. off the coast of Gravelines by the 'Notre Dame de Flandres' of the Gravelines SNSM station at around 10:30 a.m- The 'Abeille Normandie', which was monitoring the boat, informed the CROSS Gris-Nez that the boat was taking on water and was sinking, immediately went to the aid of the victims and recovered all of them, thanks in particular to the rapid launching of its EDO boat- There were two injured people on board. Once docked in Boulogne-sur-Mer, all boat people were taken care of by the land authorities and the two injured by rescue teams. A total of 147 people were rescued during the day.

Several migrants rescued east of Calais

On the night of April 27, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed of a migrant boat leaving the Walde lighthouse area east of Calais and engaged the 'Cormoran' to locate and monitor the boat. During the night, its occupants requested assistance. The 'Cormoran' then rescued all 77 occupants of the boat and brought them back to the quay in Calais, where they were taken into care by land-based rescue services. On April 27, 2025, several migrant boat departures were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez, which initially deployed the operational drome boat (EDO) of the 'Cormoran' to locate a boat in the Wald lighthouse area. Once on site, the EDO made contact with the boat; a person on board requested assistance. The crew of the 'Cormoran' proceeded to recover this person. The remaining people of the boat refused all assistance and continued on their way. Following the assistance, the CROSS again engaged the 'Cormoran' to locate and monitor a migrant boat in the Grand Fort Philippe area. Once on site, all the boat's occupants requested assistance from the 'Cormoran'. The 19 people rescued by the 'Cormoran', as well as the man rescued earlier, were taken to the port of Calais and taken into care by the authorities on land. Mid-morning, the CROSS was once again informed of the departure of a boat north of Calais and engaged the 'Abeille Normandie to locate the boat. Once on site, the crew recovered the 29 people on board who were requesting assistance and took them to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, where they were taken into care by the authorities on land.