Sheltering Libyan vessel mistaken for migrants' boat
People walking in the countryside at Fomm Ir-Rih thought that migrants had landed when they saw a Libyan fishing boat in the scenic bay yesterday.
It turned out that the fishing boat had entered the bay after suffering engine failure, according to the AFM.
The AFM said in a statement today that observers reported the boat at 5.15 p.m.
The police were alerted by the AFM and sent Mobile Squad vehicles to the area, whilst an AFM Air Wing helicopter was scrambled to investigate the reported sighting. A patrol boat was also diverted to the same area.
The Police Mobile Squad apprehended the three fishermen, of Libyan and Tunisian origins. Their fishing boat was escorted by the AFM patrol boat to Grand Harbour, Valletta for further police investigations.
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M.Sammut
Oct 10th 2010, 18:53
This is the second time Libyan vessels come unnoticed and undeclared. Remember Europe is under a terror threat. Could be weapons transfer or worse WMD. Are we taking this seriously. Malta could be used as a terror route to Sicily and Europe. Our security is so lax we need help from Europe.
I Abela
Oct 10th 2010, 17:37
This boat must have been really small. The Ex-Brigadier used to say that their equipment was capable of locating a soda can in the middle of the Mediterranean. So one must assume that this boat is either smaller than 5 inches, or the AFM equipment / personnel need some upgrading / training.
Andy Towler
Oct 10th 2010, 17:23
I'm just surprised that people were walking in the countryside near Fomm ir-Rih... weren't they afraid of being shot by hunters?
J S Borg
Oct 10th 2010, 16:54
Just imagine if they were to be terrorists. They could have taken the island in no time. if I am not mistaken Transport Malta has a scanning camera the persons in charge of which did not see immigrants sailing in to Marsaxlokk Bay not ones but about three time.
Alex Brincat
Oct 10th 2010, 15:07
Anyone who seeks shelter shall be given shelter.
This is clearly an accident and these people should be helped if the find themselves in difficulties, the same way that Maltese fishermen should be assisted in Libyan waters if they become victims of harsh weather and other adverse occurrences.
What worries me is that radar has not picked them up! This is due to old surveillance equipment which is old, obsolete and regularly out of service due to technical faults. AFM personnell risk their lives in teh air and at sea knowing that the equipment they us is substandard. Shame on the government for not putting more money in AFM's aircraft (the new one to be half financed by the EU will not be enough), vessels and monitoring equipment.
No wonder that when a tragedy happens at sea, barely no one makes it out alive.
God forbid that my aircraft engine fails over the sea (for some unforeseen circumstance). If it does and I ditch my only hope might be pre-flight planning, emergency equipment I carry on board and a watchful eye of an AFM pilot on board an Air Wing miltary aircraft only good for sightseeing tours.
Alex Brincat
9H-ABW
Mark Zerafa
Oct 10th 2010, 22:53
Mr. Brincat, I believe you underestimate Air Wing guys. Someone with your expeience should know better. You should know that the Islanders are equipped with Maritime Radar and FLIR. You should also know that if the sea is choppy, it is easy to lose track of a small vessel in the ground clutter. As long as your transponder is on and your emergency localiser function properly, they should get to you in no time. To call the glorified tourist planes is a bit insulting, to say the least.
And as for radar not tracking the vessel... if the vessel followed the pattern of a Maltese fishing vessel, it would not raise much suspicion. I think that if a patrol boat were sent to check every vessel that approaches the Maltese coast, we would probably have bloggers here moaning of Malta being a police state!
Charles Sammut
Oct 10th 2010, 12:53
L-aqwa li l-patrol boats godda waslu Malta just in time biex jippuzaw mal-Papa.
joseph Dalli
Oct 10th 2010, 12:51
As far as i know we have various radar stations round malta for coastal survellience are these being manned. what are the people in charge doing how can a boat go un suspected in a very stormy day when there are not so many local boats going around . These fishermen entered our waters and european waters without any problems they did not drop there from the sky they sailed towards the island can somebody in power explain
T Camilleri
Oct 10th 2010, 11:55
Dik sigurta' li għandna!!!!!!!!!!
victor Vella
Oct 10th 2010, 11:55
Would the AFM comander kindly give the public an explanation why the radar unit did not have the boat coming in from Libyan waters under surveillance?This is a disgrace, I agree with Franco Farrugia if the fishing vessel came into Malta (not just at sea but inland) wouldn't it be just as easy for a boat carrying drugs to do the same?
Franco Farrugia
Oct 10th 2010, 11:13
U hadd ma nduna! Mhux ta' b'xejn tidhol id-droga f'Malta!!
John Micallef
Oct 10th 2010, 10:42
Qeghdin sew biex matul il- jum waslu sa hemm u ma nduna hadd!!