Nieuw Amsterdam rescues Syrian Refugees On Monday October 20, 2014

[MobyandDick]

During our Mediterranean cruise on one morning we found out the ship was stationary at full seas. Apparently around 5am on Monday October 20, NA received an emergency call from an other vessel. As the NA was the nearest of all ships nearby, a rescue operation started. To safeguard the NA, its crew and passengers, a tender was sent out to investigate. A small boat was found with over 40 Syrian refugees on board. As the boat did not make any water nor had any other damage, the NA stayed "near" until an Italian navy ship arrived to rescue all 44 passengers a couple of hours later. The captain made his first announcement by 8am as most were still asleep once the emergency call was heard. Well done to ship & crew assisting in this humantarian operation. While ensuring the safety of passengers & crew, all possible assistance was provided to help the poor people.

Apparantly this tiny vessel was on full seas for 4 days. All 44 male passengers were successfully rescued and the NA continued its journey gracefully.

please see youtube for a short impression:

[YOUTUBE]

[/YOUTUBE]

[sail7seas]

Thanks for sharing this story with us.

Indeed, well done to the Officers and crew of NA.

 

[kazu]

During our Mediterranean cruise on one morning we found out the ship was stationary at full seas. Apparently around 5am on Monday October 20, NA received an emergency call from an other vessel. As the NA was the nearest of all ships nearby, a rescue operation started. To safeguard the NA, its crew and passengers, a tender was sent out to investigate. A small boat was found with over 40 Syrian refugees on board. As the boat did not make any water nor had any other damage, the NA stayed "near" until an Italian navy ship arrived to rescue all 44 passengers a couple of hours later. The captain made his first announcement by 8am as most were still asleep once the emergency call was heard. Well done to ship & crew assisting in this humantarian operation. While ensuring the safety of passengers & crew, all possible assistance was provided to help the poor people.

Apparantly this tiny vessel was on full seas for 4 days. All 44 male passengers were successfully rescued and the NA continued its journey gracefully.

please see youtube for a short impression:

[YOUTUBE]

[/YOUTUBE]

 

thanks for sharing this

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you for sharing the video.

Glad the Nieuw Amsterdam was there to rescue them.

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for the information, glad the NA could be there to assist.

[innlady1]

Thank you for sharing the video. That was quite a rescue by the Italian Navy...44 people in that tiny boat. WOW.

[puppycanducruise]

Thanks for sharing this story.

Glad the Nieuw Amsterdam was there to assist.

[chrispb]

I'd be surprised if those people in the boat are Syrians - they are more likely to be asylum seekers who have paid people smugglers a lot of money to be taken to an EU country, usually Italy. Overloading small boats seems to be a speciality of those smugglers. There are other non-EU countries much nearer to Syria where genuine refugees would be more likely to head.

 

The UK is withdrawing help for would-be migrants. See below link for those interested:

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11196014/How-Mediterranean-migrants-have-increased-since-Italy-began-search-and-rescue.html