AFM PATROL VESSEL'S PARTICPATION
IN OVERSEAS JOINT FRONTEX OPERATION
In November 2007, the Armed Forces of Malta's offshore patrol vessel (OPV) P-61 sailed for a three week-plus deployment off the coast of Almeira, Spain as part of the FRONTEX Joint Operation "INDALO 2007", along with a number of maritime and aeronautical assets from other European Union member states.
From constant monitoring of the illegal immigration situation of the European Union's external border, FRONTEX has detected a trend in the Mediterranean Sea in the illegal migrant boat arrivals from North and sub-Sahara Africa, particularly off the Spanish coast of Levante. Most of these illegal immigrants are North Africans and sub-Saharans.
The Joint Operation "INDALO 2007" aimed to measure the illegal immigration towards the Mediterranean Sea, the Spanish coast of Levante, and so efforts focused on the control of the European Union's Mediterranean Member States' maritime external borders by tackling illegal immigration maritime flows, in particularly those organized by criminal networks. The mission of safeguarding the open seas and coasts was realized by FRONTEX following a common operational plan, entrusted to the Spanish Guardia Civil Authorities for implementation.
On Wednesday 31st October 2007, OPV P61 sailed from Malta to Almeria, Spain on what's considered as the AFM's first ever overseas maritime operational deployment. The arduous 1000 nautical mile voyage to Almeria lasted some 3 days.
The participating countries who participated on this FRONTEX joint operation to assist Spain were Malta, participating with one OPV and one AFM Maritime Squadron Officer at the International Co-ordination Centre (ICC), Italy participating with 2 National Officers, 2 National Experts, 2 boats and 1 aircraft, France participating 1 National Officer, 2 National Experts and 2 aircraft, Portugal participating with 1 National Officer and 2 Inshore Patrol Boats, Germany participating with 2 National Experts, Rumania participating with 2 National Experts as well as Spain, participating with a Guardia Civil Staff, a team of National Experts, 4 patrol boats and 2 Helicopters.
Guest officers had the capacity to perform all tasks and exercise all powers for border checks or border surveillance in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15th March 2006 establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code), and that are necessary for the realization of the objectives of that Regulation.
In the Iberian Peninsula area, OPV P-61 participated during "INDALO 2007" in anti illegal migration operations with excellent performance alongside other foreign forces deployed to fight the influx of migrants originating from various African countries. Operations were particularly active in the maritime area surrounding the southern coast of the Spanish Andalusian region, between Granada, Almeria and Cartagena some 20 nautical miles offshore.
OPV P-61 returned back to Malta on Friday 23rd November 2007.
Online picture gallery at web-URL link:
http://s52.photobucket.com/albums/g18/MALTASWIFTS/022_OPN_IDALO_FRONTEX_2007/
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MIGRANT BOAT LANDINGS IN MALTA -2007by MALTASWIFTS21,472 views
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