The saga of the human trafficking continues – 57 immigrants all males and in good healthy conditions that were stranded in a dinghy in Malta’s SAR Area were rescued by the Libyan fishing vessel DAR AL SALAM 1 between Tuesday 28th and Wednesday 29 th April.
Following a rescue operation coordinated by the Maltese government the group of 57 migrants on Thursday 30th April evening were transferred to the 31.20 metres short sea ferry boat EUROPA II that was chartered from Captain Morgan Cruises by the Maltese Government with all expenses via the EU and with AFM Personnel onboard at OPL Malta of which they will remain under quarantine off the Maltese coast. Built in Italy in 1987 she has a passenger capacity of 440 passengers.
DAR AL SALAM 1 is a a Portuguese built fishing vessel homeported at Tobruk, Libya owned by Gulf Fisheries Ltd, Malta. She was built in 1970 by Estaleiros Sao Jacinto SA, Aveiro with yard number 85 as CAPITAO PISCO trading until 1998 and renamed MAE YEMANJA bearing MFA 6021 fishing matricola at a time. During the first quarter of 2019 she emerged as DAR AL SALAM 1 flagged in Libya.
It is understood that this arrangement was made by the Maltese government in accordance with communication that took place earlier this month with the European Commission in which it stated that during the pandemic crisis, the country’s resources were focused on working to curb the pandemic.
A government spokesman has confirmed the latest development in the irregular immigration saga. He added that Malta’s position has remained clear as far as rescue operations. He said that while Malta coordinated the rescue operation, he stressed that the Maltese ports were closed and insisted that now it must fall on the European Union to shows solidarity and take responsibility for these immigrants.
The government explained that while coordinating this rescue operation, it immediately initiated official contacts with the European Commission and all member states to relocate these immigrants to member countries.
After completion of the transferring DAR AL SALAM 1 with 4 crew contacted VTS for bunkering operations at Bunkering Area 4 with the fuel supplier Go Fuels of which on Thursday 30 th April at 2343 hrs she started to approach the anchored tanker VANNA.
Photos by Capt. Lawrence Dalli. Do not use these images without my permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Friday 1st May, 2020
