SNS 077

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

23 migrants rescued off Gravelines

On the morning of Sep 19, 2025, the CROSS Gris-Nez was alerted due to the departure of several migrant boats off the coast of Pas-de-Calais. The "Nordet," the PSP 'Flamant', the 'Minck' and 'Ridens', the 'Abeille Liberté' the 'SNS 276-Notre Dame des Flandres' of the SNSM station Gravelines, the 'SNS 077-Notre Dame du Risban' of the SNSM station Calais and the 'Maroni' were mobilized. The 'Minck' and the 'Notre Dame des Flandres' rescued 23 people aboard from a boat off the coast of Gravelines and disembarked in Calais. The remaining people chose to continue their crossing, still under the surveillance of French resources, and coordinated by the CROSS.

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.

107 migrants rescued in numerous interventions

During the night of Dec 24, numerous departures of migrant boats were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez between Dieppe and Leffrinckoucke. Very early in the morning, the CROSS engaged the 'SNS 087 Jean Bart II' of the SNSM and the 'Abeille Normandie' to monitor a migrant boat, some of whose occupants were requesting assistance off the coast of the Dunkirk sector. The tug initially went to the scene, but was quickly re-engaged on another operation, the 'SNS 087', once on site, took over the surveillance, went to contact the boat and gradually recovered 30 people requesting to be rescued. The rest of the occupants of the boat were taken care of by British resources once they arrived in British waters. The boat then headed towards the port of Dunkirk, where the 30 rescued migrantss were taken care of by the onshore services. At the same time, off the coast of Dunkirk, another attempt to cross the strait was reported to the CROSS, which engaged the 'SNS 077-Notre-Dame du Risban' and the 'Abeille Normandie' to ensure close monitoring of the boat. Initially, the SNSM boat went to the scene to assist the migrant boat, which first refused assistance. Later, the migrant boat was reported to be in difficulty due to an engine failure. The 'Abeille Normandie' took over from the 'SNS 077' and rescued 51 people. After this first recovery, the CROSS engaged the 'Abeille Normandie' in another surveillance operation reported at the Walde Lighthouse Arriving on site, the tug reported that the occupants wanted to be rescued, launched its semi-rigid boat and rescued 26 people. All migrants were dropped off at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. In total, 107 people were rescued.