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99 migrants rescued from two precarious boats

On the night of Jan 14, 2025, numerous departures of migrant boats were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez at the coast of Pas-de-Calais. In the middle of the night, the CROSS engaged the 'Abeille Normandie' to locate a migrant boat in the area of ​​the La Huchette beach, between Gravelines and Calais. At the same time, the migrant aid association "Utopia 56" reported to the CROSS Gris-N that several people from this boat had fallen into the water. The 'Abeille Normandie' launched its semi-rigid to make contact with the boat and assess the situation but, noticing no people in the water, began monitoring the boat. After several hours, the CROSS Gris-Nez received calls from migrants asking for assistance. Noting that these were indeed aboard the boat near the 'Abeille Normandie', the crew picked up all 58 migrants on the boat and dropped them off at the quay in Boulogne-sur-Mer on the early morning of Jan 15, where they were taken care of by the shore-based rescue services. At the same time, another boat departure was reported at the coast of Malo-les-Bains to the CROSS, which deployed the 'Ridens' to ensure close surveillance. After a few hours, some of the people on board the precarious boat asked the 'Ridens' for assistance, which then picked up 41 people, while the rest of the migrants continued on their way. Given the risks of falling overboard or of injuries incurred by people in the event of a forced intervention by French rescue resources, the decision was made to let them continue their journey, while ensuring that their crossing was monitored. The CROSS Gris-Nez then engaged the customs patrol boat 'DFP1-Jacques Oudart Fourmentin' to relieve the 'RidensÄ' in monitoring the boat and allow the vessel to drop off the migrants, who had requested assistance, in Calais, where they were taken care of by shore -based rescue services. In total, under the responsibility of the Maritime Prefecture, 99 people were rescued.

45 migrants rescued, three died

On the morning of Dec 29, numerous departures of migrant boats were reported. Among these cases, around 6:00 a.m., a departure of one of the boats from Sangatte beach encountered difficulties during boarding with around 50 people remaining in the water and on the beach. The CROSS Gris-Nez noted the difficult departure and dispatched resources to the area to assist and recover people at sea in the coastal zone. The 'Ridens' was tasked to monitor the boat, and the 'SNS 077-Notre Dame de Risban' of the SNSM station Calais was deployed assistance, as well as the customs patrol boat 'Nordet' and its semi-rigid for assistance in the coastal zone; a Dauphin helicopter of the Navy base in Le Touquet, medical teams from the mobile emergency and resuscitation structure from Boulogne-sur-Mer and Dunkirk, who were deployed on the beach. During the SAR operation, 45 people were assisted by rescue services on land, most of them for hypothermia, including four in emergency, who were transported to the hospitals of Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer. The Dauphin helicopter recovered three unconscious people. First aid was immediately given to them at the Tom Souville nautical base. Their deaths were confirmed by the medical teams. At the same time, the search for potential castaways at sea has continued. An investigation has been opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor's office. 56 firefighters, one nurse and an advanced medical unit, 56 police officers and associations mandated by the State (Protection Civile and AUDASSE were involved.

151 migrants rescued by numerous means

On the night of Nov 30, numerous departures of migrant boats were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez in the Strait of Dover. On the evening, a passenger ship located a boat off the coast of Calais. The CROSS engaged the 'Abeille Normandie' to monitor the situation on the overloaded boat. Following a distress call, the CROSS also engaged the lifeboat 'SNS 077-Notre dame du Risba'" from the Calais SNSM station to assist the boat. Once on site, the lifeboat recovered two people from the sea, who were suffering from hypothermia and dropped them off at the Calais quay to be taken care of by the land-based rescue services. While the 'Abeille Normandie' maintained surveillance, some of the people on board the boat requested assistance. The tug crew recovered 73 people, including one diabetic person and three with minor burns. The CROSS then set up a telephone conference with the maritime medical coordination emergency medical service (SCMM) in Le Havre and the ship. The deployment of a medical team from the SMUR in Boulogne-sur-Mer was recommended to take care of the injured. The CROSS deployed ta Dauphin helicopter of the French Navy base in Le Touque, which hoisted the medical team aboard the 'Abeille Normandie'. At the same time, the CROSS deployed the SAR vessel 'Ridens' to take over surveillance of the boat with the remaining people. After a few hours, the nine people on board the boat requested assistance from the 'Ridens'. They were rescued and dropped off at the quay in Calais. At the same time, the medical team on board the 'Abeille Normandie' did not recommend a medical evacuation, but medical care at the quay, once the migrants were dropped off in Boulogne-sur-Mer. During the night, the CROSS engaged the hydrographic vessel 'Lapérouse' of the French Navy for the surveillance of a boat off the coast of Calais. Once on site, the 'Lapérouse' launched its semi-rigid boat and noted that the boat was overloaded and in poor condition. The CROSS then engaged the 'Abeille Normandie' to reinforce surveillance of the boat. The 'Lapérouse' initially recovered four people, two of whom had fallen into the water, and transferred them to the emergency tug. A few hours after the start of the surveillance, all people on board requested assistance. The 'Abeille Normandie' recovered 63 people on board. The 67 people rescued by the 'Lapérouse' and the tug were dropped off at the quay in Boulogne-sur-Mer, where they were taken care of by the land rescue services. In total, 151 people were rescued.