Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 22nd of September 2022

Case name: 2022_09_22–ATL112

Situation: 56 travelers in distress in the Atlantic Ocean, rescued by Salvamento Maritimo and brought to Las Palmas.

Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded

Place of Incident: Atlantic Ocean

Summary of the Case:
On Thursday the 22nd of September 2022 in the late afternoon the Alarm Phone shift team was alerted by a person traveling on a zodiac boat with 56 travelers, including 14 women ans 2 babies, in distress in the Atlantic Ocean. The travelers had left from Tarfaya, Morocco around 6:00 CEST that same day. There was water coming into their boat and the waves were dangerously high. We received their GPS position. We immediately alerted the Spanish search and rescue organization Salvamento Maritimo, relaying all information we had about the distress situation. We stayed in contact with the travelers and forwarded their changing position to Salvamento Maritimo when possible. They in turn confirmed that they were searching for the boat. From the travellers we learned that a merchant vessel called ERDOGAN BEY was standing near their boat, but not making efforts to rescue the travelers. Through the website “vessel finder” we observed the rescue vessel GUARDAMAR POLIMINIA leaving the port from Las Palmas heading in the direction of the forwarded position. We stayed in direct contact with the people on boat and informed them about the rescue vessel reaching them soon. Around 21:30 CEST we called Salvamento Maritimo and they confirmed that the travelers had been rescued and brought to Las Palmas.