63 dead on boat adrift for 16 days

[FourPoints]

They made distress calls, which were both received and answered by military vessels and aircraft, a military helicopter even came and dropped off some supplies, but they were then left there adrift for 16 days before the boat washed ashore in Libya, where the survivors were arrested / detained for 4 days. No rescue attempt was ever made.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/08/nato-ship-libyan-migrants

Granted this boat did not sound like it was in in good repair, and did not appear to have any [functioning?] communications equipment besides a single satellite phone, which presumably ran out of battery after the initial distress call went out. But plenty of opportunities for rescue presented themselves. 3-4 days after the helicopter dropped supplies to them they were approached by a French aircraft carrier, and even had aircraft perform fly-by's to inspect them, but were still not rescued. 10 days later they washed ashore in Libya with 61 dead, and 2 more died within the next few days.

We all assume that no matter what, when that mayday call goes out or the epirb is turned on, that the people on the other end will come through and save us, but this is a stark reminder that when going out to sea you really must be prepared to rescue yourself, and that a rescue will not always take place.

 

[Mike B1026]

I wonder if because there is a war going on, maybe that was a major issue?

 

[kenn]

I wonder if because there is a war going on, maybe that was a major issue?

Maybe. But it's probably more likely that no European or NATO countries wanted to touch them for fear of having to tale them on as asylum seekers.

In any event, it's shameful. It also highlights the need for more effective policies to deal with refugees and asylum-seekers from Africa, until that continent is as stable and safe as we're all used to.

And FourPoints, I suspect it's still the case that there will be an immediate and effective response to any Maydays issued from white Westerners jaunting about on their pleasure yacht, even when we're dumb enough to sail into trouble spots like the Gulf of Aden.

 

[Roger Long]

it's shameful.

The more so because we all know that, if it was a couple of white guys out there in their fiberglass yacht yelling for help because they were seasick and the refrigeration had failed, they would have been whisked straight to a hotel.

 

[Joe Diver]

X2 Roger...very sad...but very true.

 

[kenn]

an order of magnitude more than 63 here...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/05/09/libya.html

 

[John Sluder]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/08/nato-ship-libyan-migrants

The captain of the ship and pilots should face court martial, and dis-honorable discharge and jail time.

The french are big to talk about social liberties and short on doing it when it come to non-white Europeans

http://www.cnkeyword.info/france-to-stop-a-train-to-stop-immigration-tunisia-africa-and-france-figure/

 

[kenn]

The [pick country] are big to talk about social liberties and short on doing it when it come to non-white Europeans

It's a tragic situation, please let's get the facts before looking for those to blame. It's not a simple issue.

 

[Sailm8]

Not trying to justify by any means what happened but a report I read said that there were several refugee "boats" rescued in the area and authorities thought they had rescued the boat in question. Without communications it would be difficult to make sure you had the boat in distress. Apparently there are many fleeing the area in boats sort of like Cuba. Add the confusion of a war zone and splinter command structures and horrible mistakes happen.

 

[DJW]

My quess is that the cold hard facts are that France figured they around had a boatload of folks from North Africa in the country and they were not looking to add any more

Dennis

 

[waternwaves]

"...........more effective policies to deal with refugees ........."


excuse me,
I lost my job, sold my stuff, and I am still trying to help americans......

what is this magical effective policy that you reference?
why should I pay for others largesse?

packing your family and @$$ on a boat does not a good citizen make. And lets see......we should help the people who are unwilling to help themselves and fix their own lives in their own country? Maybe we should all leave america and give it to the first 300 million or so that want in. Or wait better yet......lets all leave and let in 600 million.........

emmigration is a symptom, not a malady. We dont have to change others governments, america chooses to intervene to lessen bloodshed. Its a nasty choice, with no real advantage to us, as it makes both sides eventually hate us.

But let me be clear on this. The people unwilling to defend or change their own country when presented the opportunity, are not the kind of people we want to admit to any civilized country where social responsibility is necessary.

Sorry, wet feet or dry feet, not a good reason for immigration. Why dont we try increasing the number of legal educated immigrants that studied and are willing to adopt our legal systems rather than carry in their existing tribal atrocities to ours.

And before you slam the navies out there patrolling, perhaps those folks on scene were much more aware and wise about what should have been done with that boat than we armchair libertarians thousands of miles away might ever discern.

My boat does not give me the right to sail into any other country and take up residence because of crap happening at home.

Nor is it a "right" of any other.

Illegal immigration is not a "right"

 

[FourPoints]

My boat does not give me the right to sail into any other country and take up residence because of crap happening at home.

no it doesn't (although the right to move and live anywhere you want in the world is a good discussion topic, it is not the topic of this thread), however the laws of the sea do require that should you come across another person or vessel in distress, you are required to provide as much assistance to them as you are able to without putting yourself, your crew, or your vessel in danger, and that requirement applies to every vessel floating anywhere on the globe regardless of who is at the helm. The point I wanted to make with this topic, was the fact that these people died because that help was not provided, even though it was possible for them to be saved.

So to rephrase your words, your boat gives you the right to expect assistance of other vessels in the area when you have an emergency, regardless of who you are or where you are from.

These people had every reason to expect assistance, but they were denied it presumably because of who they are or where they are from. They could have been rescued, and later returned to their country if the nation that rescued them did not want to let them stay (again, not the point of this thread).

 

[dkdoyle]

no it doesn't (although the right to move and live anywhere you want in the world is a good discussion topic, it is not the topic of this thread), however the laws of the sea do require that should you come across another person or vessel in distress, you are required to provide as much assistance to them as you are able to without putting yourself, your crew, or your vessel in danger, and that requirement applies to every vessel floating anywhere on the globe regardless of who is at the helm. The point I wanted to make with this topic, was the fact that these people died because that help was not provided, even though it was possible for them to be saved.

So to rephrase your words, your boat gives you the right to expect assistance of other vessels in the area when you have an emergency, regardless of who you are or where you are from.

These people had every reason to expect assistance, but they were denied it presumably because of who they are or where they are from. They could have been rescued, and later returned to their country if the nation that rescued them did not want to let them stay (again, not the point of this thread).

Why would you say anyone deliberately left them to die because of their skin color or education. That is just nuts.

 

[FourPoints]

Why would you say anyone deliberately left them to die because of their skin color or education. That is just nuts.

What other explanation do you have? they put out a distress call, got an answer, responded to by a military helicopter that came by and gave them water, couple days go by and a French aircraft carrier comes by, sends planes overhead to investigate, then leaves. By this time they are out of water again, and 63 people end up dead before the boat eventually washes ashore.

They contacted people for help, someone sent a helicopter to search for them and provide assistance, but none was really ever provided. You mean to tell me that whoever authorized a SAR helicopter to go out, that found the craft, and would have reported its position, has any other excuse besides deliberate abandonment of them at that point?

 

[dkdoyle]

Guess I just find it hard to believe the worst of everyone. I personaly like Sailm's theory. But we may never know.r b bfbbhbbyby

 

[FourPoints]

Guess I just find it hard to believe the worst of everyone. I personaly like Sailm's theory. But we may never know.r b bfbbhbbyby

I agree, I wish it were a "simple" mistake, but it looks like gross negligence from here.