More details on Jupiter Bay rescue

More details have emerged of the rescue of more than 300 people by a Manx registered ship.

The registered bulk carrier ‘Jupiter Bay’ was en route from Tunis to Gibraltar late last Friday night (6th) when it took a call from the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Rome requesting assistance in a search and rescue effort.

The vessel was within an hour's sailing of the search area.

The report from the Isle of Man Ship Registry says Captain Shabbir Patla and his Indian crew responded quickly, reaching the rendezvous point by 1130 pm local time.

During the next three hours, the Jupiter Bay took on board some 322 men, women and children, a challenging operation in the hours of darkness requiring some ingenuity from the crew.

Once on board the next challenge for the ships crew was providing sufficient food, water and other aid for the refugees before sailing to Pozzallo in Sicily where they were due to arrive on Saturday evening.

With a normal crew of just 20 . . this quickly exhausted the Jupiter's food stores.

The ship was met by coastguard and two doctors at Pozzallo . . and the refugees were able to disembark onto another vessel before which took them ashore.

The Jupiter Bay then resumed its voyage to Gibraltar after restocking its stores.

The Italian Navy has rescued some 5,000 refugees in the sea between North Africa and Italy in recent years.