A vessel from the Icelandic Coast Guard (ICG) yesterday took control of a ship carrying more than 400 migrants off Italy coast. The crew had had abandoned the ship and no-one on board knew how to steer.
The people are believed to be refugees from Syria. According to the BBC the ship, the Ezadeen, appears to be registered to a Lebanese company and has come under the control of human traffickers. It was built almost 50 years ago as a livestock carrier.
ICG's vessel Týr took the Ezadeen in tow and is now heading to port in Italy.
Týr has been patrolling the area on behalf of Frontex, a European border institute, since December 1st. From the start of the mission Týr's crew has participated in rescuing over 2,000 people who had paid smugglers to bring them to Europe
This is the sixth year that Iceland contributes ship and personnel to Frontex's border control on Europe's southern coastlines.
A vessel from the Icelandic Coast Guard (ICG) yesterday took control of a ship carrying more than 400 migrants off Italy coast. The crew had had abandoned the ship and no-one on board knew how to steer.
The people are believed to be refugees from Syria. According to the BBC the ship, the Ezadeen, appears to be registered to a Lebanese company and has come under the control of human traffickers. It was built almost 50 years ago as a livestock carrier.
ICG's vessel Týr took the Ezadeen in tow and is now heading to port in Italy.
Týr has been patrolling the area on behalf of Frontex, a European border institute, since December 1st. From the start of the mission Týr's crew has participated in rescuing over 2,000 people who had paid smugglers to bring them to Europe
This is the sixth year that Iceland contributes ship and personnel to Frontex's border control on Europe's southern coastlines.
