37 Migrants Feared Dead after Dinghy Capsizes off Canary Islands
Thirty-seven migrants are feared dead after a dinghy carrying dozens of people capsized off the coast of Spain's Canary Islands, the sole survivor to have been found so far told Spain's maritime rescue services on Thursday.A rescue helicopter carrying the survivor - a 30-year-old woman who appeared exhausted and shaken - and two corpses landed at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria airport, in the Canarian capital, after a cargo ship found them 135 miles away from the coast.The woman told rescue workers that 40 migrants were aboard the dinghy…
New Lifeboat Station Aids Greek SAR Services
A new lifeboat station has been opened on the Greek island of Chios – with the cooperation of International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) members – to help support the rescue of migrants in the Aegean. The Lifeboat station was made possible through a partnership between Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschappij (KNRM), the maritime search and rescue service from the Netherlands, and the Hellenic Rescue Team (HRT), and with the support of the Maria Tsakos Foundation along with community leaders and local volunteers. At an event to celebrate the opening of the centre – which was completed in only three months – two lifeboat vessels donated by the KNRM, Athena and Arina to be deployed on the surrounding waters, were also christened.
Arctic Rescue Vessels Named in Wismar
After a construction period of around 17 months, two identically designed icebreaking rescue and salvage vessels have been named Beringov Proliv and Murman during a ceremony at Nordic Yards in Wismar. In addition to representatives of the customer Rosmorrechflot, other participants in the naming ceremony included Russia's Deputy Transport Minister Viktor Olerskiy. During the naming ceremony, Dr. Vitaly Yusufov, Chairman of the Management Board of Nordic Yards, stated, "Today we are naming two of the world's most modern and specialized rescue vessels.
Maritime Museum Fundraises to Honor Rescue Services
The recession has generated difficult times for many Americans, yet it has failed to weaken the generosity of the National Maritime Museum Cornwall visitors, who have raised nearly $12,000 for the rescue services in the last few months. The Museum’s cherished Search & Rescue exhibition celebrates the Maritime Rescue Services. Honoring their work, a charity box has been installed for donations with plans of future distribution spanning all the partners involved in the exhibition. Though, the donation box is not the only addition made to the museum.
IMRF Gains Formal Legal Status in China
The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) has successfully registered its Asia Pacific regional centre (APRC) in China, giving it formal legal status and providing a timely boost to maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) development in the region. Registration means that the IMRF, which has operated an office in Shanghai since 2011, can advance its activities without the limitations of Chinese law places on non-registered organizations. As a legal entity in China the IMRF can now operate a corporate bank account…
Search Continues For Survivors Of Double Caribbean Tragedy
Hopes were fading on Saturday of finding more survivors among about 50 people missing and feared dead after two boats carrying illegal migrants, most of them from the Dominican Republic, sank this week in separate incidents in the Caribbean. Haitian and French authorities reported that they had found 31 bodies so far from the wrecks - which took place off the southwestern coast of Haiti, and off the coast of the small Franco-Dutch island of St. Martin. The double tragedy highlighted the perils of voyages in often small and overcrowded vessels that hundreds of people from poorer Caribbean nations make every year to seek a better life in more prosperous parts of the region.
MCA Reports Vessel Aground
On Monday, Humber Coastguard were advised by Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) Humber that the German registered 2,551 ton general cargo vessel ‘Urte’, with a cargo of scrap metal had gone aground at the entrance to the River Trent. The vessel, which had eight crew members and a pilot on board, sustained damage to the bow. A tug was on the scene by early Tuesday morning. The VTS Humber reported the situation had deteriorated, the vessel had taken a sixteen degree list and was taking water over the port quarter. Humber private rescue launched and took all personnel off and landed them at Blacktoft Jetty on the River Ouse. Hull Coastguard was also in attendance.
