A Greek ferry came to the rescue of 75 individuals early Sunday morning, June 1, after their sailboat sent out a distress signal southeast of Karpathos in the Aegean Sea, according to the Hellenic Coast Guard. The crew is believed to be migrants, though officials have yet to confirm their nationalities or intended destination.
The incident unfolded approximately 14 nautical miles off the southeastern coast of Karpathos, prompting Greece's Unified Search and Rescue Coordination Center (EKSED) to lead the emergency response. The nearby passenger ferry, Blue Star Xios, was called in to assist and quickly altered its course to respond to the emergency.
In addition to the ferry's efforts, a rescue vessel from the Hellenic Coast Guard was dispatched to help with the operation. Passengers aboard the ferry, which was on its usual inter-island route, were among the first to notice something unusual. Some of the 200 people onboard shared videos online showing the overcrowded sailboat making its way towards the ferry. They also reported that the ferry had stopped and lowered a small boat, presumably to aid in the search for those in distress.
According to reports, weather conditions during the rescue were moderate, with west-northwest winds blowing at about 20 knots—considered a fresh breeze, or around five on the Beaufort scale. The Blue Star Xios is a RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) ferry built in 2007, measuring 141 meters (462 feet) long and boasting a gross tonnage of 14,000. It can accommodate up to 1,700 passengers in its seating areas and also provides space for vehicles.
The crew of the ferry successfully brought all 75 individuals onboard from the overcrowded sailboat. Video credits go to Καρpaθιακά Νέα on Facebook. The rescued individuals are expected to undergo standard health assessments and identification procedures. So far, no further information has been released regarding their backgrounds or final destinations.
Last week, 17 members of the Hellenic Coast Guard faced formal charges over a tragic incident in 2023, where an overloaded boat carrying migrants capsized. In that case, around 100 people survived, but 72 bodies were recovered. Survivors claimed that a patrol vessel may have contributed to the crisis, and reports indicated that several hundred more individuals were lost when the boat went down.
Greece and Turkey have a long history of tension concerning the management of migrant flows. Turkish officials have accused Greece of pushing migrants back into perilous waters. Meanwhile, international organizations have criticized the oversight of rescue operations in the Eastern Mediterranean, calling for improved coordination and reforms to protect those attempting these dangerous journeys.
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