AFM in detailed rebuttal of criticism on Simshar search
"With more information now emerging on this case from the sole survivor, the AFM feels it is inappropriate to level accusations or allegations based on interpretation of information not available at the time."
The Simshar
The AFM in a statement this evening said that its actions in the search for the missing fishing boat Simshar were based upon the information made available to it both from technical resources and family members.
"With more information now emerging on this case from the sole survivor, the AFM feels it is inappropriate to level accusations or allegations based on interpretation of information not available at the time," the service said.
In its detailed statement, the AFM revealed that such was its search, that its crews recovered jackets and other small items from the sea, which were shown to the relatives of the Simshar crew to ascertain whether they belonged to them. None did.
The AFM denied that it or any other government entity seizes seacraft as a punitive measure for false or unnecessary distress alerts, a claim made on TV yesterday.
It also denied that any fishing vessels were prevented by the AFM from heading out to sea to conduct their own searches for Simshar.
"AFM staff managing the operation met with the family members of the crew of Simshar on Sunday 13 and Tuesday 15 July and on Friday 18 July these were joined by the owners of some of the fishing vessels searching at sea. During these meetings any further available information was solicited.
"Furthermore a briefing session and exchange of information was held with the Fisheries Cooperative on Wednesday 16 July 2008. During this exchange, no member of the cooperative questioned the measures being implemented. In fact they expressed the view that the search area should be expanded further to the south and possibly east," the AFM said.
During that same meeting, the possibility of the cooperative deploying a leased civilian aircraft was raised. The AFM advised against having such an aircraft conducting uncoordinated searches in an area where other aircraft were flying their assigned search missions as this could lead to potentially hazardous situations where aircraft would be in close proximity at similar altitudes. It at one stage offered to provide a search pattern for this aircraft in order to ensure that their activities were properly merged thus optimizing the operation.
"Notwithstanding, this civilian aircraft was deployed without any coordination being undertaken. On completion of the flight, the crew was requested to report to the Rescue Coordination Centre to provide details of their activities which produced no significant sightings, which request was complied with of their free will."
Reacting to assertions on the serviceability of its aircraft, the AFM said its Islander aircraft were constantly and heavily utilized.
"When maintenance schedules fall due the necessary maintenance actions must be rigorously implemented to ensure flight safety. While it is true that towards the latter stages of the search after repeated search flights, both Islanders were grounded for vital maintenance, this was in no way allowed to detract from the quality of the search as alternative assets were sourced from neighbouring Rescue authorities and other agencies competent in the field."
The AFM also denied that here was any form of refusal to recover the corpse of the Somali national forming part of the crew of the Simshar for reasons related to racial overtones.
"That such allegations are totally false is attested to by the fact that the corpse of the said individual was recovered by AFM patrol vessel P52 on the evening of Saturday 19 July after a local fishing vessel on scene had declined to do so due to the advanced state of decomposition in which the corpse was found."
Meanwhile an AFM patrol boat and an AB212 helicopter of the Italian Military Mission today continued their search for Theo Bugeja, the boy who remains missing. Fishing boats could not continue the search because of the rough sea.
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victor g.mercieca
Jul 23rd 2008, 15:34
@ Adrian Vassallo??.....For your infomation on Saturday morning just after 06:00am we were out there for 3 hours scouring the sea & we located the third crew member, thus recovered by AFM after being informed thereafter.....your counter productive comments deserve no attention, the readiness of AFM in SAR operations is of great interest to any flight operations in this maritime region.
Robert A. Shirley
Jul 23rd 2008, 15:20
Yes, Mr. Mercieca may have an axe to grind against the AFM: his aerial photography aircraft was denied by the AFM from flying over the Floriana Granaries' no-fly zone when the Pope came to visit Malta. I was visiting then, and The Times had reported his incident in its daily.
Agreed, radio-silence would be best. As the Lord said: let those who haven't a sin cast the first stone. Bravo AFM for providing a service rivalled by many nearby in the central Mediterranean, here's hoping the Libyan SAR authorities take a leaf oout of your book of experience!
Adrian Vassallo
Jul 23rd 2008, 11:13
@Victor G. Mercieca
Mr. Mercieca, You forgot to tell us that you have an aircraft (C172). You also forgot to tell us that you hire your A/C. You haven't been trained as a SAR pilot, your A/C is not equipped for SAR and you are condemning the AFM for doing their utmost. Please maintain radio silence.
Michael Mifsud
Jul 23rd 2008, 10:42
I am under the impression that the AFM has a vessel now upon which a helicopter can land and re fuel for long range operations. Has this vessel been deployed on this SAR?
mickel van Gurchom
Jul 23rd 2008, 10:12
Lets face it, people working at AFM , want to save lives, if they can and do their job as good as they can like most people do in their job.
B Borg
Jul 23rd 2008, 07:56
I am no expert in SAR, however I cannot understand how illegal immigrants managed to reach our shores undetected at about the same time when the AFM was searching for the missing fishermen, not to mention the simultaneous grand European farce (read official European taxpayers´money wastage) that Frontex and its infamous ´missions´ have become.
As Maltese citizens, we have a right to an explanation by the AFM (which I still respect) and from Frontex (for which I hold NO RESPECT WHATSOEVER since a very long time).
If ´poor´ ´unaided´illegal immigrants can make it undetected all the way from the shores of North Africa, if leaves me wandering about what smugglers are bringing in, drugs, weapons, dangerous reptiles, terrorists, explosives and what not.
Such happenings make me feel ashamed to be a citizen of Malta, and even more ashamed to be a ´European´ citizen (whatever the latter is supposed to mean).
May the fishermen that passed away rest in peace, and my most sincere condolences to their families.
Denis Catania
Jul 23rd 2008, 06:54
I don't think race is a issues in this case. The AFM goes out 100 miles out, if not further to rescue
and tow back illegal immigrants. As far as the rest, the courts will do their inquiry, and hopefully we will learn from any mistakes.If mistakes were made , I don't think they were done intentionally.
Victor G.Mercieca
Jul 22nd 2008, 23:53
Why was the AFM against deploying civil aircraft to assist in the sea search? Surely this reasoning of the location being 'Hazardous' due other aircraft in area does not measure to a competent professional flight crew flying visually in unlimited visibility & in positive radar contact with Malta ATC! So why wasn't a 'notice to airman' (NOTAM) not issued if they did not want anybody out there? Just across a few miles to Italy & many other countries, Civil Protection has a plan to activate Civil Aircraft if the need arises, like last week's situation, especially with 1 x Islander aircraft U/S & the other was I believe on another mission with Frontex (equipped with a new Flir camera), but no such plan is in place here?? Only the indivisual efforts made by people directly concerned. This continued AFM 'Boldness' which is being displayed in my view must be disfused as it is very apparent effecting the current status of SAR readiness & high level required in this region to sustain safe air & sea operations.
Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association U.S.A. # 01161606
A valued member since 1993.
Frans Sammut
Jul 22nd 2008, 22:53
A moot point, Mr Saliba.
K Grech
Jul 22nd 2008, 21:47
Now is the time for mourning not finger pointing. The magesterial enquiry will takes its time and reach its own conclusions and then we will know. As it stands we have lots of speculation, incomplete information and an intrique to know more.
Let us be patient and allow due process to take its course and in the meantime let us mourn the great losses and tragedies that have befallen the families and friends of the victims.
Chris Park
Jul 22nd 2008, 21:18
The AFM's statement comes clean: it is obvious there aren't any hidden agendas. Enough of this rhethoric's cackle, let's get a coherent version from Simon Bugeja himself now, as so far we have only heard many conflicting versions from relatives and colleagues in the fishing trade. The VMS, oh by the way, is a local initiative not an IMO approved distress-signalling measure for sea vessels. So, pointless harpering on this gadget, easily screenable with a tin-bucket for discreetness on own movements. It's curious why the fishermen searching at sea till Thursday's corpse find of Noel Carabott never disagreed with the AFM as to where or what to look for. Matters took a different near anarchic turn after that point, with privately hired aircraft and all. If this EU-funded comms-equipment onboard the SIMSHAR failed miserably, plus the life raft utilised, isn't anybody asking why this happened? My thoughts also go to young Theo, the greatest loss of this human tragedy.
martin saliba
Jul 22nd 2008, 21:04
"That such allegations are totally false is attested to by the fact that the corpse of the said individual was recovered by AFM patrol vessel P52 on the evening of Saturday 19 July after a local fishing vessel on scene had declined to do so due to the advanced state of decomposition in which the corpse was. If Theo is found he will be in a further state of decomposition. Will it be safe to assume that the AFM will be call in to recover the corpse? Or will the fishermen who find him recover him themselves? Does the skin colour have anything to do with it? Why did the sole survivor call out " We are Maltese , we are European "? Have there been instances where non Maltese or non European were left to drown? There are a lot of questions to be asked.