The Guépattre rescues Yemeni sailors in distress

(B2) The French frigate Guepratte - which is taking part in the EU anti-piracy operation "EUNAVFOR Atalanta" - provided assistance to Yemeni fishermen yesterday. It was yesterday afternoon (Friday) in the Gulf of Aden.

Guepattre found a dhow with six people on board that was drifting and seemed to be in trouble. In fact, it had lost its propeller and had already been drifting for 7 days in the sea. The dhow, which is called Mahra, was towed by the frigate, while waiting for a relay by the Oman coast guards.

This type of assistance to sailors in distress is quite common in the Gulf of Aden. Although it does not appear in the framework set for the Atalanta mission, it obeys the general principle of assistance at sea. It is codified in article 98 of the international convention on the law of the sea (known as Montego Bay ).

(NVP)