134 refugees picked up by HMS Richmond. A change in Navy language?

(B2) Last Thursday (November 5) was a tough day for European sailors engaged in Operation EUNAVFOR MED / Sophia. Spanish and Luxembourg patrol planes had reported a dozen vessels, including a fishing boat and two skiffs.

In addition to the 258 people saved by the Belgian frigate (read: 4 suspects arrested in the Mediterranean by Leopold I), 76 people were picked up by the Slovenian patrol boat Triglav and 134 men and women attempting the crossing on an overloaded dinghy were picked up by the British frigate HMS Richmond.

Once aboard the ship, migrants were registered, given water and food. Some of them saw the ship's doctors ” reports the Royal Navy, before being transferred to an Italian coastguard vessel Diciotti to be landed in Sicily.

(NGV)

Comment: No Brexit for the Navy?

It may be noted that unlike the EUNAVFOR Atalanta operation, although commanded by the British, where the British General Staff tried to hide the European character of the operation - often preferring to speak of a multinational operation or a mission in conjunction with NATO - the same is not true of Operation Sophia. Press release after press release, the Royal Navy is proud to announce the color: it is taking part in a European Union operation.

In his latest publication (read here), she even gives the floor to one of her young recruits, Jade Convery, who expresses her enthusiasm from the height of her 23 years: “I've really enjoyed working with the European Union Naval Force – working with other navies has been a huge learning experience, and we already feel part of one team."

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)