Daring Sea Rescue: Greek Ferry Aids 75 Migrants Stranded Near Karpathos

A recent publication by Καρπαθιακά Νέα highlights a dramatic rescue operation that unfolded on June 1, when a Greek ferry came to the aid of 75 individuals after their sailboat issued a distress call southeast of Karpathos in the Aegean Sea. The hellenic Coast Guard is currently investigating the situation, but details about the migrants’ nationalities and intended destination remain unconfirmed.

The incident occurred approximately 14.4 nautical miles from Karpathos’s southeastern shore, prompting Greece’s Unified Search and Rescue Coordination Center (EKSED) to take charge of the emergency response. The Blue Star Xios,a nearby passenger ferry on its regular inter-island route,quickly altered its course to assist in this urgent situation. Additionally, a rescue vessel from the Hellenic Coast Guard was dispatched to provide further support.

Passengers aboard the blue Star Xios were among the first to notice something amiss; some shared videos online showing an overcrowded sailboat approaching their ferry. Witnesses reported that once they spotted distress signals, the ferry halted operations and deployed a small boat for search efforts.

Weather conditions during this rescue were moderate—winds blowing at around 20 knots from west-northwest created what is classified as fresh breezes on the Beaufort scale.Built in 2007, Blue Star Xios measures 141 meters (462 feet) long with a gross tonnage of 14,000 and can accommodate up to 1,700 passengers along with vehicles in its garage space.Thanks to its crew’s swift actions, all individuals from the overcrowded sailboat were safely brought onboard.

Following their rescue, these individuals will undergo standard health assessments and identification processes; however, no additional information regarding their backgrounds or future plans has been disclosed yet.

In light of recent events surrounding migrant safety at sea—such as last week’s charges against 17 members of Greece’s Coast Guard related to another tragic incident where an overloaded boat capsized—this case underscores ongoing tensions between Greece and Turkey over migrant management practices. Turkish officials have accused Greece of pushing migrants back into perilous waters while international organizations continue advocating for improved coordination in Eastern Mediterranean rescue operations.

As we reflect on these incidents involving vulnerable populations seeking safer shores across treacherous waters like those found between Europe and Asia Minor—a reminder emerges about our collective responsibility towards humanitarian efforts amidst such crises.