At Least Five People Drown Trying to Cross English Channel
At least five people, including a child, died in an attempt to cross the English Channel from France, hours after Britain passed a bill to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda to try to deter the dangerous crossings.The deaths of one child, a woman and three men occurred on an overcrowded small boat carrying around 110 people attempting to cross one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. The French coastguard was still searching for survivors."After becoming initially stranded on the shore, the boat set out to sea again.
UK Report: More Collaboration Needed on Migrant Crossings
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch has published its accident investigation report on the loss of at least 27 lives when an inflatable boat carrying around 33 people became flooded and partially sank during an attempt to cross from France to the UK on November 24, 2021.The events were complex with multiple inflatable boats that were unsuitable and ill-equipped for the journey attempting to cross the Dover Strait to England. The occupants were not trained mariners, and their only means of calling for help was by mobile phone.
UK Navy Rescues Four From Sinking Yacht
A U.K. Royal Navy warship assisted in the rescue of four people from a yacht that was taking on water and at risk of sinking in the English Channel near the Isle of Wight.Last week, the Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond answered a Mayday call from a civilian yacht that was taking on a significant amount of water while sailing from Beaulieu River in the New Forest toward Honfleur in France.Diamond was in the area after leaving its home port and coordinated and conducted the rescue operation…
Coral Leader to the Rescue
Coral Leader, a Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) owned by NYK supported the rescue operation of five people including two children onboard yacht. The yacht was in distress in the Mediterranean Sea, just off Corsica.The operation was conducted by French Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) on August 26 (local time) off the coast of France. The vessel Coral Leader is managed by Wallem Shipmanagement LimitedWhile Coral Leader was sailing from the port of Livorno, Italy, to the port of Tarragona, Spain, the vessel received a call from MRCC to cooperate in the rescue operation of a yacht.The Coral Leader diverted course to help. The…
Hull Vane Retrofit Improves OPV’s Performance
CMN Shipyard in Cherbourg, France, conducted sea trials on the June 13, 2018 on the OPV Thémis from the French Coastguard (Affaires Maritimes).The patrol vessel received a hydrodynamic upgrade at the shipyard by retrofitting the patented Hull Vane, an underwater wing which reduces the ship’s resistance. Comparison with the benchmark sea trials – conducted in January in exactly the same conditions – by CMN’s sea trial team showed a reduction in fuel consumption of 18 percent at 12 knots, 27 percent at 15 knots and 22 percent at 20 knots.
French Coastguard Searches for Quiksilver Boss Missing at Sea
The French coastguard on Tuesday searched for Pierre Agnes, the chief executive of U.S. surfwear retailer Boardriders Inc, after his 36-foot (10.97 m) sailboat was found washed up on the country's Atlantic coast. Rescuers were scouring the Bay of Biscay waters off Hossegor, a surfing resort from where the 54-year-old Agnes set sail early in the morning, the Landes prefecture said. Agnes sent a message to port authorities indicating that he was delaying his return because of thick fog. His beached boat was later found empty not far from Hossegor. "An air and sea search operation is underway," the Landes prefecture said in a statement, adding that two helicopters and two boats were involved in the rescue operation.
Bus Hit by Wave, Fishermen Rescued in UK Storm
Ten people have been rescued after the bus they were travelling in was hit by a large wave on the seafront road at Newgale in Wales, and 6 from a disabled French commercial fishing vessel off the southwest of England coast in a 60 mph wind. Milford Haven Coastguard say they were contacted with reports that the bus was stuck on the seafront, having been hit by a large wave and was surrounded by water. The wind at the time was gusting over 50mph. Broadhaven and St. Davids Coastguard Rescue Teams…
Five Crew Rescued from Sunken Fishing Boat
Five crew members from a French fishing vessel have been winched to safety after their boat sank in stormy conditions off the Cornish coast. Falmouth Coastguard was first contacted just before 1 a.m. this morning by the French Coastguard, who reported that the 21-meter fishing vessel Panamera was taking on water and their pumps weren’t coping. The RNLI Lizard all-weather lifeboat along with the Royal Navy search and rescue helicopter from Culdrose were sent to the scene. Falmouth Coastguard also issued a mayday relay broadcast, to see if any vessels in the area could help. Two tankers responded to this message and went to the Panamera. They positioned themselves around the boat to provide shelter while waiting for the search and rescue units to arrive.
LPG Ships Collide in France
Two LPG tankers collided in the northwestern French port of Donges causing 60 tonnes of ship fuel to spill into the Sea. French coastguard said the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) carriers the Happy Bride and the Sigmagas hit each other at 1920 GMT. There were no reported injuries and both vessels had been towed back to port. However, 60 tonnes of bunker fuel oil had been spilt in the collision.
