AFM studying search outcome

The Armed Forces of Malta yesterday said it was studying the outcome of the recent rescue of a boat carrying 96 illegal immigrants to see what lessons could be extracted and applied to future incidents.

It said it was also hoping to ascertain why the craft was eventually found at a considerable distance outside the predicted search area.

The boat was found on Saturday by a Tunisian ship some time after the AFM had called off its own search, following a 17-hour search involving four surface vessels, two helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft.

The AFM explained that it had searched an area indicated as being the boat's probable location, worked out using the AFM's computer-aided search planning tools.

"These tools, which have proved their effectiveness countless times in the past, operate using internationally approved methods. It must be understood, however, that no planning tool can provide a 100 per cent reliable solution," it said.