HMS ENTERPRISE saves 639 lives at sea
This morning, while operating in International Waters under the EUNAVFOR MED Operation’s 1st phase mandate, the Royal Navy Hydrographic ship HMS ENTERPRISE rescued 639 souls from a wooden boat in distress at sea.
Conducted in coordination with the International Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (IMRCC) in Rome, the rescue operation has also provided the occasion to cooperate with the Italian Patrol ship Aviere operating in the area under Operation Mare Sicuro, that patrolled the area around the intervention zone in order to grant that no other ships and lives were at risk of safety. This event highlights once again the strong synergy reached by EUNAVFOR MED with all the other operations in the area such as Mare Sicuro and Triton.
HMS ENTERPRISE is now heading towards the port of Catania.
On 7 October, as announced by the EU Political and Security Committee last September 28, Operation EUNAVFOR MED will move to its second phase which would allow for the boarding, search, seizure and diversion of smugglers’ vessels on the high seas under the conditions provided for by applicable international law.
Since the launch of the Operation on June the 22nd, EUNAVFOR MED assets have conducted 15 rescue operation saving a total of 3076 lives at sea.
