The Armed Forces of Malta learned that a 13-metre boat was in extreme difficulties, due to high swells and Force 7–8 gales, on Thursday evening. It is understood that Rome Control Centre was the first to pick up the distress signal originating from the boat on Thursday afternoon.

Sketchy reports indicate that one of the people on board had a satellite phone. Rome immediately informed the AFM at 5.15pm on Thursday that the boat was in extreme difficulties some 106 nautical miles south-west of Malta. In fact, the AFM was given the responsibility of coordinating the SAR operation.

An Italian Coast Guard helicopter was coincidentally on patrol in the area and reported sighting the vessel. An extensive search and rescue operation was immediately launched involving Malta’s P51 patrol boat and four foreign military vessels including the German navy’s FGS Koeln and the USS Klakring.

Two merchant vessels also assisted in the search and two helicopters from the German and American vessels headed for the last known position of the boat, but nothing was found.

Very early yesterday morning a US 6th Fleet P3 Orion took off from its base in Sigonella, Sicily to resume the search but, again, nothing was sighted.

The AFM said yesterday that weather conditions in the area consisted of Force 7–8 winds and extremely rough seas which continually hampered the search and rescue operation.

The surface search continued until 2pm yesterday. Sources said that a German medical team had assessed the situation and, taking into account the cold weather, rough sea and winds, said that chances of survival at that point were negligible.

“Taking into account the above mentioned factors, and the normal factors of exposure after spending a night in the sea, and considering the advice of the German medical team, the decision to call off the search was taken.”

However, an AFM spokesman said that aircraft were still on the lookout in the extremely unlikely event of spotting any survivors. “It is a carbon copy of the case last week. But unfortunately for those aboard, the conditions for being out at sea were horrendous,” said the spokesman.