Greek Special Forces to Intercept Migrant Ship Carrying 600 that Issued SOS off Coast of Corfu 'Because of Armed Men on Board'
- Ship carrying 600 illegal immigrants' issue distress call near Corfu
- Emergency call said there are 'armed people on board the ship'
- Vessel is a Moldovan cargo ship which was travelling to Croatia
- Ship tracking shows that ship made a sharp turn towards Italy
Daily Mail UK, 30 December 2014
Greek special forces are set to intercept a ship carrying up to 600 illegal immigrants that issued a distress call off the coast of Corfu earlier today.
Someone on the vessel, a Moldovan cargo ship called Blue Sky M, called emergency services claiming that there were armed people on board.
Blue Sky M, last tracked northwest of Corfu, was headed to Croatia when it sent out the distress call, but tracking services show that the ship has made a sharp turn, setting course towards Italy.
An armed special missions officer of the Greek coast guard prepares to set off from Corfu harbour for waters off the Ionian island of Othoni, responding to a distress signal from Moldovan-registered 'Blue Sky M'
Distress call: Moldovan cargo ship Blue Sky was allegedly carrying 700 illegal immigrants when it sent out the distress call (not pictured today)
A merchant marine ministry official said the distress call had come from one of the passengers on board the ship, a man who had told emergency services 'we have no water, blankets, or food'.
This afternoon, BBC producer Piers Scholfield tweeted that a Greek frigate sent to aid Blue Sky M made contact, and was told the ship is 'not in danger, but needs food supplies'.
He also posted:
'Greek coastguard spokesman tells my colleague the ship Blue Sky M is now under Italian jurisdiction & no one on board is in danger.'
Two military helicopters who flew over Blue Sky M this afternoon reported no sign of life on board
The rescue operation is being coordinated by the Corfu harbour master. The Hellenic Navy frigate 'Navarino' and an S-70 Sikorsky helicopter have also been sent to the area
Shiptracking service show that Blue Sky has recently changed its course and made a sharp turn towards Italy instead of Croatia where it was heading
Further shiptracking data shows that Blue Sky made two sharp turns before heading towards Italy
The incident comes two days after a Greek passenger ferry with more than 400 people on board caught fire in the same area, leading to a huge rescue operation by Italian and Greek coast guard and military officials.
At least 10 people died in that incident, while more than 400 were rescued.
Authorities are still searching for potential missing passengers from the Norman Atlantic ferry.
The Greek frigate Navarino, which is heading to locate the cargo ship, had been in the area assisting in the rescue operation for the Norman Atlantic.