A luxury cruise liner operated by Oceania Cruises, the Insignia, has come to the aid of 68 migrants found adrift near Spain’s Canary Islands, demonstrating the region’s ongoing struggle with migrant arrivals. The rescue operation was initiated after the bulk carrier Philipp Oldendorff located their small boat.
The Oldendorff spotted the vessel in distress on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, around 506 miles south of Tenerife. The crew offered initial help before the arrival of the Insignia to finalize the rescue. According to Spain’s Salvamento Maritimo, the maritime rescue agency, the Insignia successfully saved 68 migrants despite difficult weather conditions.
Oceania Cruises confirmed the rescue in a media statement, saying, “We can confirm that Insignia rescued 68 people from a vessel in distress between Cape Verde and Tenerife and [brought] them onboard for medical assistance and provided food, drinks, clothing, and a safe place to rest.” The cruise line highlighted the importance of maritime safety and the duty of sailors to help those in danger.
Henry Tom, a passenger from Vancouver, Canada, described the events saying: “It took a few hours to rescue those on the fishing boat,” and mentioned that about five individuals had died. The Insignia crew managed to recover three bodies, but the bad weather prevented the retrieval of the other two.
The rescued migrants, comprising 62 men, three women, and three minors, were all from sub-Saharan Africa. One of them, in critical condition, died before an evacuation helicopter could reach them. According to passenger reports, the boat carrying the migrants had been at sea for an estimated 20 to 30 days.
Steve Dilbeck from Huntington Beach, California, shared his experience. “They were brought on board and placed in the Insignia Lounge,” he said. “The area has been closed off to passengers. They had them remove their clothes and put on jumpsuits. Then they asked passengers if they had shoes and clothes they could donate.”
Spain has recorded a significant rise in migrants arriving by sea this year. Government data shows that as of June 15, 23,037 migrants had reached the country by sea, a significant increase from 10,824 during the same period the previous year. The Canary Islands have emerged as a major entry point for migrants attempting the dangerous Atlantic crossing from Africa to Europe.
Earlier this month, the maritime rescue agency saved 145 migrants from a boat near Tenerife. The agency has been deploying vessels to handle the influx and offer support. However, the journey remains perilous. According to the Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders), over 5,000 migrants have reportedly died trying to reach Spain this year, with the Atlantic route proving particularly lethal.