Joint Rescue Coordination Center

A merchant ship rescued a group of 47 migrants from a distressed boat located 25 nautical miles south of Gavdos, south of Crete, on Thursday.

The merchant ship was coordinating its efforts with the Hellenic Coast Guard through the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC/EKSED).

The migrants were set to be transferred to Crete's Agia Galini village.

A joint search and rescue exercise dubbed "SALAMIS - 02/21" was conducted on Monday between Cyprus and Greece.

The exercise took place within the Republic of Cyprus' area of responsibility for search and rescue operations, and saw the participation of the Greek Frigate Hydra and an AW-139 helicopter of the Cyprus National Guard General Staff Air Command.

Cyprus and France held a joint Search and Rescue (SAR) exercise on Tuesday off the coast of Cyprus, with the participation of SAR Units and personnel of the Republic of Cyprus and France. The French frigate Auvergne also took part in the drill.

Cyprus and France completed a joint search and rescue exercise off the coast of Cyprus on Monday.

Cyprus authorities say a Maltese-flagged oil tanker caught fire and ran aground near a fishing village on Saturday, forcing several crew members to jump overboard.

Cyprus' Joint Rescue Coordination Center says the fire aboard the tanker Athlos was extinguished soon after it broke out. Five crew members were rescued from the water and taken to the hospital.