Abeille-Normandie

On the night of Aug 8, the CROSS Gris-Nez was alerted to the departure of several migrant boats on the coasts of Nord and Pas-de-Calais. First, a boat was reported departing from Gravelines in the middle of the night. The 'Abeille Normandie' was hired by CROSS to monitor the boat. Shortly after coming into contact with the boat, the 'Abeille Normandie' reported that one of the boat's inflatable tubes had deflated. 20 minutes later, several people on board the boat requested assistance. The crew of the tug launched the RIB and rescued 30 people from the boat. The remaining occupants of the boat refused the offered assistance and continued on their way. All the rescued were taken to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. At the same time, the departure of a boat was reported in the Sainte Cécile area. The PSP 'Cormoran' was hired by the CROSS to relocate the boat. Once in the area, the crew of the 'Cormoran' reported that several people on board were requesting assistance. The crew rescued nine people. The remaining occupants of the boat refused the offered assistance and continued on their way. All those rescued were taken to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. In total, 39 migrants were rescued during the night, using state resources at sea, coordinated by the CROSS Gris-Nez.

On Aug 10, several assistance and rescue operations were conducted by the CROSS Gris-Nez to assist migrant boats. On the early morning, theCROSS was alerted that a migrant boat had suffered an engine failure in the Leffrinckoucke area and depliyed the 'Ridens' to monitor the boat. A few hours later, some migrants reported that the boat had broken down and requested assistance. The 'Ridens'rescued 59 people. Several people still on board the boat refused the assistance offered by French resources and continued on their way. The people rescued by the 'Ridens' were then dropped off at the quay in Calais. On the same morning, two people were rescued aboard two different boats following requests for assistance. The first person, rescued by the intervention, 'Abeille Normandie', was dropped off at the quayside in Calais. The other person, rescued by the 'Minck', was dropped off at Gravelines. Later, another migrant boat was reported leaving the Bay of Somme. The CROSS then engaged the patrol boat 'Entre deux baies' from the SNSM station in Fort-Mahon-Plage to monitor the boat, which then suffered an engine failure. With the support of the 'SNS-511-Sainte-Blaise' from the SNSM station in Cayeux-sur-Mer, all 22 occupants of the boat were brought ashore in Cayeux-sur-Mer to be taken care of by land-based services. A total of 83 people were rescued by the State emergency services.

On Aug 11,, several assistance and rescue operations were coordinated by the CROSS Gris-Nez to assist migrant boats. On the early night, a migrant boat had stopped in the Hardelot area. The CROSS deployed the PSP 'Cormoran', which made contact and discovered that the boat had suffered engine failure. All 83 occupants quickly requested assistance. The patrol boat picked up all the passengers from the boat and dropped them off at the quay n Boulogne-sur-Mer. On the early morning, the CROSS was alerted by the border police's "Action Air Environnement" surveillance aircraft that a migrant boat was adrift in the Le Touquet area, and engaged the 'Minck' and the 'SNS 7-034-Notre Dame des Sables' from the Berck-sur-Mer SNSM station to monitor the boat. Once on site, all 22 people on board the boat requested assistance and were picked up by the 'Minck'. Near this boat another one was also in difficulty. Thus, the 'Minck' kept the 22 people on board while it monitored this other boat. 12 people on board requested assistance and were also picked up by the 'Minck', while the remaining occupants refused the offer assistance. All 34 people rescued by the Minck were dropped off in Calais. Finally, a migrant boat was reported off the coast of Merlimont-Plage. The CROSS engaged the "Notre Dame des Sables" and the patrol boat 'Maroni' to monitor the boat, which was heading towards Sainte-Cécile beach to embark more migrants. During this boarding, the 'SNS 7-034' assisted seven people who had fallen into the water, and then four more a short time later. Given the large number of people aboard the boat, the CROSS engaged the 'Abeille Normandie' to monitor the boat and stood down the SNS 7-034' and the 'Maroni'. Around midday, the occupants of the boat requested assistance from the 'Abeille Normandie', which rescued 36 people and dropped them off at the quay in Boulogne-sur-Mer. A total of 164 people were rescued by the State rescue services.

On the night of July 29, the CROSS Gris-Nez was notified about the departure of several migrant boats from the coasts of Nord and Pas-de-Calais. First, a boat was reported leaving the Aa Canal in the middle of the night. The 'Minck' was deployed to monitor the boat. Once on site, the 'Minck' launched its operational drom boat (EDO). During the surveillance, several people on board the boat requested assistance. On the morning, the 'Minck's crew rescued a total of 33 people. The remaining occupants refused the offered assistance and continued on their way. On the foremidday, the rescued people were taken to the port of Calais and taken into care by the land authorities. At 3:00 a.m., another boat was reported departing from Dunkerque. The 'Abeille Normandie' was deployed by the CROSS to monitor the boat. Following an engine problem, several people from the boat requested assistance. The crew of the emergency tug launched an inflatable boat and rescued 23 people. The remaining occupants of the boat refused the offered assistance and continued on their way. All rescued people were taken to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Finally, on the morning, a third boat was spotted off the coast of Le Touquet. The CROSS deployed the 'ESMP 03' for surveillance. The 'ESMP 03' reported that the boat was taking on water and began rescuing the people. The CROSS broadcast a Mayday relay and engaged a Dauphin helicopter of the Navy base in Le Touquet as well as the lifeboat 'SNS076-Président Jacques Huret' from the Boulogne-sur-Mer SNSM station. A total of 36 people were rescued, including one with minor injuries. All rescued were immediately dropped off by the 'ESMP 03' on the beach at Dannes for treatment by the firefighters. The remaining occupants of the boat refused the offered assistance and continued on their way. During other coordinated operations throughout the day, two people were also rescued by the RIB 'SNS 7-034-Notre Dame des Sables' of the Berck-sur-Mer SNSM statio and the RIB 'Ouranos' of the Calais Gendarmerie. A total of 94 people were rescued and cared for by French maritime assistance and rescue resources.

On July 17, the departure of a migrant boat was reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez at the mouth of the Authie River. The patrol boat 'Flamant';and the 'Abeille Normandie' as well as a Dauphin helicopter of the Navy base in Le Touquet were deployed and made contact with the boat. The 'Flamant' launched an operational docking boat (EDO) to monitor the migrant boat. On the evening it suffered an engine failure and requested assistance. The crew of the 'Flamant' took on board the 44 people and dropped them off at the port of Calais, where they were taken into care by government services. During the mid-afternoon, the 'Abeille Normandie' and the Dauphin helicopter were deployed to search the area for migrants stranded by the tide. The five were hoisted by the helicopter and taken nto care by the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service and the National Gendarmerie. Already late on July 18, 2025, the cROSS Gris-Nez was alerted to the departure of a migrant boat in the Equihen-Plage area. The 'Minck' and the lifeboat 'SNS 4013' from the Equihen Beach SNSM station were deployed to locate the boat. The 'Minck' launched its RIB to monitor the boat, which requested assistance. The 'Minck's crew took on board the 58 people, who were taken to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer and taken into care by government services.

On the nigh of July 9 , numerous migrant boat departures were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez. First, in the middle of the night, the departure of a boat was reported to CROSS in the Dunkirk area, The 'Ridens' was deployed to monitor the boat. In response to a request for assistance from people on board the boat, the ÄRidens' recovered five people and continued to monitor the boat, which continued its voyage towards British waters, with the remaining occupants having refused all assistance. Subsequently, the 'Ridens' rescued another three migrants requesting assistance. The eight migrants were then disembarked in Calais in the mid-afternoon of July 10, where they were cared for by land-based rescue services. The 'ÄAbeille Normandie' was then deployed by the CROSS Gris-Nez to locate and monitor a boat reported in the Calais area. Once on site, the RIAS tug the poor condition of the boat, which was beginning to break up, and launched its two RIBs to assist the boat's occupants. The 'Abeille Normandie' rescued all 75 people and disembarkied them at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. where they were taken into care by land authorities. In total, as of July 10, 2025, 83 people were rescued and taken into care by government resources.

On the night of July 3 and on July 4, numerous migrant boat departures were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez. First, at 3:00 a.m., the departure of a boat was reported to the CROSS in the Dunkirkarea. TheCROSS engaged the 'Abeille Normandie 'to monitor the boat. Once on site, the tug launched its RIB to monitor the boat during a migrant boarding phase near the coast. The tug then reported that seven people on board were requesting assistance, rescued them and took them on board. At 3:30 a.m., a boat was reported departing from the Dunkirk Canal des Dunes in Dunkirk. The CROSS Gris-Nez engaged the patrol boat "Armoise" to monitor the boat. At 9:00 a.m., the 'Armoise' reported having rescued all 60 people on board. All the people disembarked at the Paul Devot quay and were taken care of by the emergency services on shore. At 5:00 a.m., another boat was spotted off Hardelot. The CROSS Griz-Nez engaged the patrol boat PSP 'Pluvier' to monitor it. Once on site, the 'Pluvier' lunched its operational patrol boat (EDO) to maintain contact with the boat. The 'Pluvier' reported having rescued one person who had fallen overboard. The person was in good health and did not require medical assistance. In the early afternoon, the boat was disembarked at the Saint-Paul quay in Calais and taken into care by rescue services on land. Late in the morning, a boat was reported off the Walde lighthouse in Calais. The CROSS engaged the lifeboat from the Calais SNSM station, the 'NS 067 – "Mona Rigolet' to monitor the boat. Once on site, the 'SNS 067 'alerted that the boat was damaged and sinking, and began the rescue of all 81 people. At 1:00 p.m., all rescued people were disembarked in Calais and taken into care by government services on land. In total, 149 people were rescued and taken into care by government resources.

From the night of June 20, 2025, to June 21, numerous migrant boat departures were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez. First, the departure of a boat was reported to the CROSS in the Cayeux-sur-Mer area. The "SNS 708 - Quartier Maître Gilbert Vandenberghe" from the Cayeux-sur-Mer SNSM station was deployed aling with the semi-rigid boat "SNS 7-034 Notre Dame des Sables" from the Berck-sur-Mer SNSM station. The 'Abeille Normandie' took over from the 'SNS 7-034' and monitored the boat. Once on site, the tug launched its RHIB to assist the boat during a migrant boarding phase along the beach. The RHIB rescued one person from the water and delivered him at the beach at Cayeux-sur-Mer. Later on June 20, the CROSS Gris-Nez engaged the 'Minck' to assist another migrant boat that had left from the beach at Hardelot. Once on site, the 'Minck' started monitoring the boat, which was heavily laden and in poor condition. In response to a request for assistance from people on board the boat, the 'Minck' recovered 20 people and continued to monitor the boat, which continued its voyage towards British waters, with the remaining occupants having refused assistance. Once the migrants on board the boat had been taken into care by British assets, the 'Minck' headed for Boulogne-sur-Mer to drop off the 20 people. On the morning of June 21, more migrant boat departures were reported to the cROSS Gris-Nez, starting with a boat from the port of Dunkirk West. The CROSS successively engaged the "SNS 276 - Notre Dame des Flandres" from the Gravelines SNSM station and the 'Oyapock' of the Maritime Gendarmerie and later the 'Ridens' as a relief to monitor the boat. Once on site, the 'Ridens' reported a request for assistance from some of the boat's occupants following an engine damage. During an initial recovery phase, the boat began to break up, and some of its migrants fell into the water. The CROSS Gris-Nez then again engaged the SNS 276,' the 'Oyapock' and an RHIB of the patrol boat 'Flamant' to assist the 'Minck' in recovering the castaways. 38 people were recovered and transferred aboard the 'Minck'. The remaining occupants of the boat were taken into care by British resources. The 'Minck' then headed to the port of Calais, where the rescued people could be taken into care by the land authorities. At the same time, the departure of a boat was reported to the CROSS from the Bay of Wissant. The CROSS deployed the 'Abeille Normandie' to locate it and monitor the boat. Once on site, the tug reported the poor condition of the boat, which was beginning to break up, and launched its two rubber boats, which recovered all 77 people from the boat. The castaways were dropped off at the port of Boulogne-sur-Me, where they were taken into care by the land authorities. In total, during these operations, 136 people were rescued and taken into care by state resources.

On the night of June 12 and on June 13, numerous migrant boat departures were reported to the CROSS Gris-Nez. On the evening the CROSS was informed by the police that a migrant boat off Slack Beach was showing signs of difficulty. In coordination with land-based services, the CROSS deployed several resources, including the French Navy's Dauphin helicopter based in Le Touquet and resources from the SDIS 62 to locate and rescue the boat people. In coordination with the MRCC in Dover, a British aircraft was also diverted to participate in the search. However, once in the area, the resources did not report the presence of any boat in the water and therefore were stood down. Secondly, a floating but unpowered boat was spotted by land services off Pointe aux Oies. The CROSS engaged the 'Abeille Normandie', which confirmed the boat was adrift with three people on board. The emergeny tug rescued the migrants, who were taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer and taken into care by land-based rescue services. Later that night, a second boat requested assistance off Audresselles. The CROSS engaged the French Navy's hydrographic survey vessel 'Laplace', which joined the boat. Four of its occupants requested assistance, They were picked up and taken in Calais. The remaining migrants on the migrant boat refused any assistance and continued on their way. During the same night, another boat was reported in difficulty off the coast of Gravelines. The location of the boat, overloaded with 50 people, was located by the Schiebel S100 drone of the CROSS Gris-Nez. The latter also engaged the lifeboaat 'SNS 276 - Notre Dame des Flandres' from the Gravelines SNSM station, which rescued two people on board, while the boat continued on its way. On the morning of June 13, another boat was spotted on the beach at Quend. The CROSS engaged the surveillance vessel 'Yser' from the French Maritime Gendarmerie to locate the boat. Two people, who were found in difficulty, were rescued by the 'Yser' and brought ashore, where they were treated by the local land rescue services. The same morning, another boat was spotted off the coast of Dunkirk. The CROSS engaged the RHIB 'ESMP04' of the Maritime and Port Security Platoon of the French Maritime Gendarmerie,and then the patrol boat 'Flamant'. The troubled boat quickly took on water, and the patrol boat began assisting the occupants, joined by the rescue vessel 'Ridens' and the 'Abeille Normandie'. The 'Flamant' rescued 63 people and headed for the port of Calais. The other occupants initially did not require further assistance, as the boat continued to deflate. They were finally picked up by the 'Ridens' and the 'Abeille Normandie', which took them to the ports of Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer), respectively. In total, 79 occupants of the boat were rescued and taken into care by land-based rescue services. Finally, on the early evening of June 13, a migrant boat was reported off the coast of Equihen-Plage. As weather conditions deteriorated, the CROSS deployed a Frontex aircraft to locate the boat, followed by the 'Flamant' and the patro l boat 'Pluvier'. After a request for assistance from the nine occupants of the boat, they were picked up by the PSP Flamant and brought to the dock in Boulogne-sur-Mer.

On the aarly imorning of , June 11, 2025, the CROSS Gris-Nez was notified that a migrant boat was in difficulty off the coast of Sangatte. The 'Abeille Normandie' was deployed by CROSS to locate the boat. Once on site, the crew of the emergency tug discovered that the boat had suffered an engine failure, and rescued 50 people on board, followed shortly after by the remaining four. The 54 migrants were then dropped off at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, where they were taken into care by the shore-based rescue services.