Man jumps overboard, found off Malta

A man who a Greek vessel had reported as missing overboard was found by a Maltese vessel in the sea 165 miles off Malta but he is refusing to return to his own ship, the AFM reported this afternoon.

The case started yesterday shortly before 7 a.m. when the Greek registered vessel Anglia P informed the AFM's Operations' Centre that it had a man overboard in an area 88.95 nautical miles north east of Malta.

The AFM Operations Centre transmitted a NAVTEX message informing all ships in the immediate area to keep a sharp look, and coordinated a search. Fourteen vessels assisted in the search which ended at 4 p.m. when the Maltese-registered MV Port Estoril reported that a 36 year old man with a Philippines passport had been recovered 165 nautical miles from Malta.

The captain of the Port Estoril also told the Operations Centre that the man was refusing to return to the Anglia P as he claimed that his life had been threatened.

The AFM in a statement said that since the man's original vessel was registered in Greece, a decision had to be taken by Greek authorities. However, since the Greek authorities refused to be involved the man was taken to the next port of call of MV Port Estoril, in Iskenderun, Turkey.