Tasked by the Rome-stationed Maritime Rescue Coordination Center to patrol the southern region of the deployment area, German Navy combat support ship FGS Berlin spotted a vessel approximately 87 kilometers off the Lybian coast.
While the rescue operation was still ongoing, the Berlin crew saw another boat at a distance of 6 kilometers. After both rescue operations were completed and the migrant vessels sunk, FGS Berlin had 245 migrants onboard.
The ship, in her last day at sea as part of EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia Task Force, is now heading towards Lampedusa Island to disembark all migrants and then proceed to Augusta harbor where she will be substituted by the German Auxiliary ship FGS Frankfurt am Main.
During the last 6 months, upon request by the competent Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia vessels have saved more than 8700 lives.
The German Navy has also said that its vessels saved 10773 persons since May 7, 2015.
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