News

During the Easter weekend, Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, rescued more than 1400 migrants in the Central Mediterranean in 13 search and rescue operations.

All vessels currently deployed in operation Triton participated in search and rescue operations in the Central Mediterranean over the holiday weekend. On Saturday, six vessels deployed by Frontex rescued more than 600 migrants.

The rescue operations continued on Sunday, when the Frontex-deployed Norwegian Siem Pilot and other vessels participating in operation Triton saved hundreds of migrants. Most migrants rescued in these operations were transferred on to the Siem Pilot which is now headed to Italy with 816 migrants on board. Other vessels deployed by Frontex are involved in on-going rescue missions.

All search and rescue operations in the Central Mediterranean are coordinated by the Italian Guardia Costiera from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in Rome, which directs maritime assets in the area to the vessels in distress. All Frontex assets are at the disposal of MRCC to assist with search and rescue.