On the 17th of June 2024 at around 09:00hrs, Officers of HM Customs’ Marine Section were conducting routine patrols of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters on HMC Sentinel. 

A statement from HM Customs follows below:

At approximately three nautical miles from Europa Point, the Officers observed at a  distance three crew members onboard a foreign registered sailing vessel trying to attract  attention by waving their hands in the air. The vessel had its sails deployed but remained  stationary, leading the Officers to believe that it was in distress.  

HMC Sentinel approached the sailing vessel on its port side and upon coming alongside,  the Captain informed the Officers that they had lost their engine power and had no means  of getting to shore as there was no wind.  

During the exchange between the Captain and the Officers an oil tanker by the name of  MV Polar Bright was on a course towards the stricken vessel and started to emit audible  warning signals as collision was imminent.  

Officers onboard HMC Sentinel promptly responded by securing a tow rope to the sailing  vessel and immediately towed it out of danger. Windmill Hill Signal Station and the Port  Authority were informed of the situation and in response, at approximately 09:25hrs, a  Port Authority marine asset arrived at the location of the stricken vessel and took over  control, proceeding to tow it to Queensway Quay.  

The incident reinforces the good cooperation that exists between Gibraltar’s State  Vessels, in this case between HMC’s Marine Section and the Gibraltar Port Authority,  under the coordination of Windmill Hill Signal Station, that served to avert what could  easily have resulted in a serious accident at sea.