Earlier today, the Armed Forces of Malta’s Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC Malta) at Luqa Barracks, successfully concluded a search-and-rescue operation which it coordinated with the assistance of the US Navy.

A total of 68 persons were rescued from the high seas. The dinghy in distress was eventually located in a position 59 nautical miles South-South-West of Malta.

The operation had kicked off early last Friday morning when the AFM’s Operations Centre was notified of the situation on the high seas, and it immediately initiated a communications search, simultaneoausly as assets from the AFM’s Maritime Squadron and the Air Wing were activated into action to the boat’s likely position.

Throughout Saturday, RCC Malta led the coordination of search efforts undertaken by an AFM Air Wing PBN Islander and the Protector class vessel P-52, whilst carrying out the required liaison with the neighbouring Search-and-Rescue authorities in Italy, Tunisa and Libya.

Later in the day, the Headquarters of the US Navy’s 6th Fleet in Naples, also provided a P3 Orion aircraft operating out of Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily to assist in the search operation.

During the search which was characterised by severe inclement rainy weather with a high swell in Force 4 to 5 conditions, and following another AFM PBN Islander aircraft search, it was a US Navy P3 Orion aircraft that eventually spotted the 40-foot long white rubber dinghy with the persons in distress onboard at 11.40pm last night. Both aircraft had been following a search plan provided by RCC Malta. Another AFM Maritime Squadron Protector vessel, the P-51 was also subsequently dispatched to the area to render assistance as required.

In the meantime, with the weather not letting up, the merchant vessel ‘Verona’ was purposely diverted as well to the area by RCC Malta to assist and with the overflying P3 Orion providing overwatch from above, successfully took onboard some 43 males whilst P51 took onboard the remaining 25 persons (which included 9 females and a child who was born onboard the AFM patrolboat).

The first group of rescued persons was landed at Haywharf Base early this morning at 8.30am by P-51, whilst the remaining group were disembarked at the Malta Freeport by the cargo vessel ‘Verona’ in Marsaxlokk later in the afternoon.

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