Migrants on boat to Jersey rescued after fuel shortage

Friday 09 July 2021

A group of nearly 30 migrants – including 10 children – had to be rescued by French authorities after their boat ran out of fuel on its way to Jersey.

The group alerted the French coastal rescue authority when their six-metre vessel ran into difficulties 33km (18 nautical miles) off Saint Malo. It had been heading north from the Brittany coast and broke down South West of the Minquiers.

The authority asked a fishing vessel in the area to check on the group and also sent down the customs patrol boat, while two naval vessels stationed in the area were also alerted, Ouest France reported. The customs boat rescued them around 05:30 on Thursday morning and took them back to Saint Malo.

Jersey authorities are in "continuing close contact" with colleagues in Guernsey, France and the UK following the incident.

Six fire rescue vehicles and ambulances were in place at Jersey's Harbour, where health and humanitarian aid was provided to the group. 

“All these people are safe,” the maritime authority confirmed in a statement.

Public prosecutor Christine Le Crom said there would now be an investigation into what happened. “It will first be necessary to establish the possible presence of a people trafficker on board the boat,” she explained.

Jersey's Home Affairs Department said the island's Coastguard was first alerted at around 04:00 on Thursday. An urgent meeting was held in Jersey yesterday to assess the situation and to put in place "any necessary actions in light of the incident."

Those present at the meeting included officers from the Customs and Immigration Service, Police, Jersey Coastguard, Jersey Ambulance Service, Jersey Fire and Rescue Service, Emergency Planning, Health and Community Services, Testing and Tracing, Jersey Field Squadron, Communications and Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance.