51 People Brought Ashore After Boat Alert North of the Island
A maritime rescue operation took place north of Lanzarote on Wednesday, 30 September, after people aboard a small wooden boat contacted emergency services to report their position.
Salvamento Marítimo, Spain's maritime rescue service, responded by sending the Salvamar Ácrux to the area. An aircraft, Sasemar 101, was also involved in the search from the air. The operation resulted in 51 people being rescued and taken towards Lanzarote.
The incident is the first migrant boat rescue reported around Lanzarote this week, according to the local report published on 30 September.
WHAT HAPPENED NORTH OF LANZAROTE?
The alarm was raised when the occupants of the wooden boat managed to make a telephone call to emergency services. Their location was in waters north of Lanzarote, prompting the Salvamento Marítimo coordination centre in Las Palmas to organise a search and rescue response.
The Salvamar Ácrux was sent to the area while the Sasemar 101 aircraft searched from above. The boat was subsequently located and the 51 people on board were taken aboard the rescue vessel.
The rescue operation was expected to bring the group into Arrecife at around 11am, where the normal procedures for people rescued at sea could take place.
WHY ARE RESCUE OPERATIONS SEEN AROUND LANZAROTE?
Lanzarote sits relatively close to the Atlantic routes used by boats attempting to reach the Canary Islands from the northwest African coast. Because these crossings take place over open ocean, boats can spend many hours or days at sea and may encounter mechanical problems, difficult weather or other dangers.
For that reason, maritime surveillance and rescue services play an important role in the waters around Lanzarote and the wider Canary Islands.
In recent weeks, Salvamento Marítimo has carried out several separate operations involving boats detected to the north and northeast of Lanzarote. These have involved different rescue vessels, including the Salvamar Ácrux and Salvamar Al Nair, as well as aircraft and assistance from merchant ships when appropriate.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR TOURISTS VISITING LANZAROTE?
For visitors staying in Puerto del Carmen, Costa Teguise, Playa Blanca, Arrecife or other holiday areas, an incident taking place far offshore does not mean that normal tourist activities on the island are affected.
These rescue operations generally take place many miles from the main holiday beaches and are coordinated by specialist maritime services. Tourists should continue to follow normal beach and sea-safety advice, particularly when swimming, boating or taking part in water sports.
It is also worth remembering that Lanzarote is an Atlantic island and conditions at sea can change quickly. Anyone hiring a boat or taking part in an organised excursion should follow the instructions of the operator and pay attention to local weather and sea conditions.
A REMINDER OF THE WORK CARRIED OUT AT SEA
While the arrival of a migrant boat is a news story, the rescue itself is also a reminder of the work carried out by Spain's maritime emergency services around the Canary Islands.
The Salvamar Ácrux and other Salvamento Marítimo vessels are regularly involved in emergency responses around Lanzarote, dealing with situations ranging from vessels in difficulty to people requiring assistance at sea.
For Lanzarote residents and visitors, these operations are largely something that happens offshore and away from the island's busy tourist areas. Nevertheless, they form an important part of the emergency response network.
