The AFM received information yesterday morning that the tug boat Eyborg had 21 irregular migrants (18 males and three females) standing on the walkway of one of its tuna pens/cages. The position of the tug boat was 109 nautical miles south of Malta and 70 nautical miles from the nearest Libyan shore, and therefore within the Libyan Search and Rescue Region and not within Maltese jurisdiction.

However, the AFM Operations Centre made numerous telephone calls and sent faxes to Libya, asking it to assume responsibility for coordinating the rescue operation. The Maltese Embassy in Tripoli was also advised about the incident and promptly intervened with the Libyan Authorities.

Further information forthcoming from the tug boat Eyborg showed that there was the body of a female among the migrants and that they were saying that a further seven to 10 people could be missing at sea. The AFM Operations Centre reminded the captain of the Eyborg of his obligation to take the migrants on board his vessel and to convey them to the nearest port. The captain of the Eyborg informed the AFM that the Misurata (Libya) Port Authorities had informed him that he could convey the migrants to Misurata Port.

At the time of going to print, contacts between the AFM Operations Centre, the Libyan Authorities and the Eyborg were still ongoing. The AFM said it was possible that a patrol boat would be sent to pick up the migrants and convey them to Misurata Port, if Libya accepts such an arrangement.