RIDENS

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237 migrants rescued alive, four recovered dead

On the morning of Oct 5, 2024, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed of several departures of migrant boats from the coast of the Strait of Dover. The 'Abeille Normandie' was deployed to monitor one of the boats. Among its occupants, 15 were recovered, including an unconscious child. The latter was declared dead by the doctor of the team of the mobile emergency and maritime resuscitation service and airlifted aboard the 'Abeille Normandie' by the French Navy's Dauphin helicopter based in Le Touquet. An investigation has been opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor's office. A second person, injured, was airlifted to the Boulogne-sur-Mer hospital. The Calais maritime and port security platoon (PSMP) detected another boat leaving Calais. On site to monitor the boat was the PSP 'Flamant' under the coordination of the CROSS Gris-Nez. The patrol boat then recovered 71 people, three of whom were unconscious. They were declared dead by the doctors of the maritime medical coordination (SCMM). An investigation has been opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer (prosecutor's office. The 12 people who had remained on board the boat initially refused to be rescued before being recovered by the 'Minck', which previously had rescued 16 people from another boat off the coast of Calais. The 'Ridens' rescued 54 people from a boat off the coast of Dunkirk. The lifeboat "Jean-Bart II" SNS 087 of the Dunkirk SNSM rescued 60 people from a boat. On the afternoon, a migrant boat sank. The 26 people on board were rescued by rescuers from the British Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). As of October 5, 237 people were rescued alive, while four died. The resources deployed in the operations were - the public service patrol boat (PSP) 'Flamant', - the BSAM 'Garonne'; - the RIAS 'Abeille Normandie'; chartered by the French Navy; - the state-chartered vessel 'Minck', - the state-chartered vessel 'Ridens', - the maritime affairs patrol boat (PAM) Thémis - the VCSM 'Aber Ildut', - the SNS 087 "Jean Bart II" of the SNSM of Dunkirk; - the SNS 276 "Notre-Dame des Flandres" of the SNSM of Gravelines; - the SNS 6295 "Jacques Lebrun" of the SNSM of Boulogne-sur-Mer; - the departmental fire and rescue operational center (CODIS) 62 - the Dauphin helicopter of the French Navy based in Le Touquet - the P-68 "Action Air Environnement" aircraft The surveillance operations were still in progress.

More than 200 migrants rescued within 24 hours

On the night of Sep 13, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that a migrant boat located in the Portel sector required assistance. The CROSS deployed the 'Jacques Oudart Fourmentin' as well as the gendarmerie patrol boat 'Maroni and a Dauphin helicopter of the French Navy. The boat was in poor condition and that the migrants were asking to be picked up. The lifeboat 'Président Jacques Lebrun-SNS 6295' from Boulogne-sur-mer also arrived in the area, followed by the fishing vessel 'Corentin Lucas'. 55 people were rescued. In addition to this operation, a further 61 people were rescued by the 'Maroni' off the coast of La Becque d’Hardelot, 48 people by the 'Ridens' near the old Walde lighthouse, while 25 other migrants remained on board the boat and continued their journey. They were finally recovered by the 'BF Voluntteer' in the English zone. The 'Jacques Oudart Fourmentin ' rescued 36 people at the end of the day. In total, 200 shipwrecked people were rescued and brought back to land, by the State resources deployed in this maritime zone. 18 attempts at boat departures were monitored by the CROSS Gris Nez, over the course of the day.

65 migrants rescued off Calais

On the early afternoon of Sep 7, the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that a migrant boat had set sail, and deployed the 'Ridens' to relocate the boat and check the situation in the area. Arriving off the coast of Calais, the people on board the boat requested assistance. The crew of the 'R'idens' launched its semi-rigid and recovered the 65 people on board. They were then dropped off at the quay in Dunkirk, where they were taken care of by shore based rescue services.