Morocco : Patrol boat rescue operation near Nador continues

A Royal Moroccan Navy patrol boat remains stranded off the coast of Nador due to powerful sea currents and strong winds, according to a statement from the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) shared on social media. «A specialized navy unit was immediately dispatched to provide the necessary support and assistance» to the vessel.

The ongoing salvage operation aims to «tow the patrol boat to the quayside in the port of Nador. A special technical commission has also been set up to clarify the circumstances of the accident», the statement added.

The patrol boat, known as «Al-Qassid», has been in service since 1988. It departed from the port of Nador with over a dozen people on board, as reported by La Razon. The vessel's engines unexpectedly failed, and easterly winds pushed it onto a breakwater, causing it to run aground.

In response, Spain «activated the National Maritime Rescue Plan to save the Moroccan patrol boat», according to the EFE agency. Authorities in Melilla dispatched a maritime rescue vessel, the «Salvamar Mirfak», to monitor the situation closely. However, Morocco declined the offer of Spanish assistance.

Rescue operations by the Royal Moroccan Navy, which commenced on Friday, are still underway.