The Portuguese Navy conducted a medical rescue for a passenger aboard the Omani-flagged vessel SHABAB OMA 2, who suffered a “deep cut” on their hand, leading to “significant blood loss,” on Thursday, off the coast of the Algarve.
The Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) received the alert around 7:27 PM. At that time, the ship was approximately 35 nautical miles—equivalent to 65 kilometers—south-southeast of the Faro Bar.
Upon confirming the “urgent need for rescue,” the resources of the Instituto de Socorro a Náufragos (ISN), the Maritime Police, the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM), and the National Republican Guard (GNR) were mobilized, as stated in the Navy’s communiqué.
About two hours later, around 9:35 PM, the necessary documentation upon arrival and transport to a hospital facility were secured. These steps were required since the ship’s passengers were “from a country outside the Schengen Area.”
It is noteworthy that the Navy, through the Maritime Search and Rescue Centers, provides a continuous response in the “maritime areas under national responsibility to incidents that may occur, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
In the first month of this year alone, the Navy coordinated the rescue of 51 people in 44 search and rescue operations.
Among these 44 incidents, 31 were recorded in the area of responsibility of the Lisbon MRCC and resulted in the rescue of 44 people.
The Navy emphasizes that “the success of the search and rescue system is supported by different organizations and resources from various entities, namely the Navy, the National Maritime Authority, the Portuguese Air Force, and other entities belonging to the Auxiliary Structure of the National Search and Rescue System, particularly the National Institute of Medical Emergency – Urgent Patient Guidance Center at sea (INEM CODU-MAR), the National and Regional Civil Protection and Fire Services, the Maritime and Port Administrations, the Coastal Traffic Control System, among other organizations.”
