Merchantmen poorly suited for SAR ops
Merchant shipping was not equipped for or suited to assisting in the rescue of economic migrants and refugees attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa, according to senior coast guard and search and rescue officials from the region.
Speaking at the International Search and Rescue Conference in Brighton last week Brig (Retd) Martin Xuereb, former commander of the Maltese armed forces and current director of the Migrant Offshore Aid Station, said that merchant ships were poorly suited to search and rescue operations.
‘The role of a merchant ship is to carry goods from A to B. They are
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![UK to join US Navy’s Virginia-class submarine assembly effort to speed up construction]()
UK to join US Navy’s Virginia-class submarine assembly effort to speed up construction
The expansion of the Virginia-class submarine construction to UK shores could accelerate the project as US shipbuilders continue to fall short of delivery goals.
-
![US Navy seeks new sensors for the CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter]()
US Navy seeks new sensors for the CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter
The US Navy intends to publish a draft request for proposals in Q2 2026 and conduct an open competition for the supply of new electro-optical and infrared capabilities for the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter.
-
![NATO naval exercises map out future USV requirements but raise questions on acquisition]()
NATO naval exercises map out future USV requirements but raise questions on acquisition
Uncrewed surface vessels have shifted from a desirable capability to a critical one for navies. But should these systems be bought outright, rented as a service or rapidly built using commercial off-the-shelf components?
