Today, the crew of the TROATAMAR III was searching for a boat drifting in Tunisian territorial waters. The boat seems to have started in Sfax on June 10th and has been drifting off the coast of Tunisia without water or food ever since. Out of desperation, the people on board have apparently started drinking sea water.
Alerted by Alarmphone, the Trotamar III began searching for the 47 people this afternoon. The Tunisian coastguard claims to be also searching for the people.
The Tunisian coastguard ordered the Trotamar III to leave the Tunisian waters at around 8 pm. This means that the crew can no longer come to the aid of the people in distress at sea, although the crew is obliged to do so according to the international maritime law. We still hope that the 47 people on board will be rescued.