Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 15th of November 2017

Case name: 2017_11_15-AEG319
Situation: 13 travellers in distress close to the Greek island of Ro, rescued by Greek coastguard
Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded
Place of Incident: Aegean Sea

Summary of the Case: On Wednesday the 15th of November 2017 at 4am, a contact person alerted the Alarm Phone to a boat in distress in the Aegean Sea, close to the Greek island of Ro, with 13 travellers on board. At 4.04am, we learned that their boat’s engine had started to work again, and at 4.15am, 4.19am and again at 4.46am, we received updated GPS position directly from the travellers. At 5.11am, we called the port police on the Greek island of Kastellorizo, who were already aware of the boat in distress, but were not able to provide us with any further information. At 8.32am, we called the port police again and asked for updates, but were referred to the headquarter of the Greek coastguard in Piraeus. In a call at 8.36am, the Greek coastguard in Piraeus then confirmed to us that 13 travellers had been rescued during the night and had most probably been brought to the port of Kastellorizo. At 8.47am, we tried to contact the travellers again, but did not reach them. However, at 9.45am, the contact person who had informed us about the boat in distress confirmed to us that they had been rescued by the Greek coastguard and that everyone was fine.