In the early-morning hours of June 14, the yacht Mayan Queen IV assisted in rescuing more than 100 migrants. They had been aboard an overloaded fishing vessel that capsized and sank off Greece.
According to the Hellenic Coast Guard, representatives from the European border agency Frontex spotted the vessel in international waters from an aircraft during late evening on June 13. Two additional nearby vessels spotted the fishing boat, too, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Pylos in southern Greece. A few hours later, however, the vessel began listing from side to side, then capsized around 2 a.m. on the 14th. It sank shortly thereafter. The Hellenic Coast Guard indicates that at least three other boats besides the yacht Mayan Queen IV assisted in rescuing passengers. A plane and helicopter were further involved.
Conflicting reports exist as to how many people were on the fishing vessel. Aerial images from the Coast Guard show the decks jam packed with people. Alarm Phone, a European rescue-support charity, believes about 750 people were on board the approximately 65- to 100-foot (20- to 30-meter) vessel. It had received calls from migrants onboard while the ship was in distress. The United Nations’ migration agency, meanwhile, estimates 400 passengers were aboard. Nikos Alexiou, a Hellenic Coast Guard spokesperson, tells Greece’s MEGA TV that authorities don’t know how many people were aboard. But, he adds, “There were too many people on the outer deck. It was full.” Additionally, initial reports indicate 79 people died. More bodies have been retrieved since the rescue.
Mayan Queen IV and the other rescuers took survivors to the port of Kalamata. Multiple media reports indicate the 305-footer (93-meter) megayacht saved at least 106 passengers. We reached out to the owners’ representatives for a statement but did not receive one by press time.
Mayan Queen IV remains registered to the late Alberto Bailleres, a Mexican national who had previously owned the world’s largest refined silver company. He died in February 2022. The Bailleres family has retained the yacht since then.
Greece is among the main destinations for African and Middle Eastern migrants heading to Europe. The United Nations indicates more than 20,000 people have died or disappeared in the central Med since 2014. This makes it the world’s most dangerous migrant crossing.
David F Eslava
Good for the yacht owner and crew. Versus the various navies that pushes the migrants back out to sea.