The Portuguese Air Force (FAP) revealed this Friday that it identified a vessel that had been adrift for 12 days in the Mediterranean Sea and helped save the man who was following it, when he was about to be hit by Depression Kristin, which caused countless damage in mainland Portugal.
In a statement, the FAP reveals that the drifting sailboat was identified on January 27th during a routine patrol mission in the Mediterranean, carried out on January 27th.
“Initially, the aircraft encountered adverse weather conditions, caused by the passage of a front associated with Storm Kristin, with several merchant vessels in the area sailing in protection from the weather”, the statement begins, adding that “after overcoming the thermal front”, the Air Force crew “spotted a sailboat adrift, with the navigator waving for help”.
The FAP military later confirmed that the man had been in that situation for around 12 days and that he “had already been the target of search and rescue operations” by the Spanish authorities, which were unsuccessful.
The situation was then reported to the Search and Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) in Portugal, which established coordination with the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in Algeria. The entities then ensured “the necessary coordination in international waters”.
At a time when, in around two hours, the sailboat would be hit by Storm Kristin, searches were started for another vessel that could help the sailboat adrift. “The merchant ship MV Thor Confidence was then identified and, after contact, was taken by the aircraft to the sailboat”, the note states.
After establishing visual contact with the sailboat, the ship’s crew “began rescue operations”, with the Air Force aircraft remaining “in the area to support and monitor the entire operation until the successful and safe recovery of the navigator was confirmed”.
The Air Force also states that at the time of the rescue “the sailboat was on the verge of being hit by Storm Kristin”.
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