The Bahamas Maritime Authority extends its congratulations and gratitude to the crew and ship owners of the Norwegian Gem. The vessel, a Norwegian Cruise Lines ship flagged with The BMA, was cruising in the Mediterranean Sea just off Greece when it received a call from the Piraeus Rescue Co-ordination Centre informing the captain that there was a migrant vessel in distress.
Seven members of the Norwegian Gem crew took a tender boat alongside MV Marianne Danica which was commanding the operation and from there they were able to help transfer the 27 Afghan women and children (of the 85 on the migrant ship). The first migrant to arrive safely on the tender was a small baby who was followed rapidly by the many women and children in need of rescuing.
Supporting the Norwegian Gem during the transfer operation were the Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Epic who were on standby to help. After what was a terrifying ordeal for the families involved, the crew were able to wrap them up in blankets and give them a hot meal before they disembarked onto a Hellenic Coast Guard ship.
