The Armed Forces of Malta issued a statement yesterday evening giving details of its search and rescue mission after the fishing boat Simshar was reported missing. The AFM said its actions 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 AFM 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 (July 13) and Tuesday (July 15); and on Friday (July 18) 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 (July 16). 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. At one stage, it offered to provide a search pattern for this aircraft in order to ensure that their activities were properly merged, thus optimising 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 utilised.

"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 there 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 (July 19) 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 Teo Bugeja, the boy who remains missing.