An inflatable migrant boat which capsized in the English Channel, resulting in at least 27 deaths, was “wholly unsuitable and ill-equipped”, an investigation has found.
A report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) also stated that the UK’s search and rescue response into the incident on November 24 2021 was hampered by the lack of a dedicated aircraft carrying out aerial surveillance.
The victims included a pregnant woman and three children.
It is the deadliest incident involving migrant crossings in the Channel on record.
Occupants of the dinghy were attempting to cross from France to England when the vessel became flooded and partially sank
PA
The MAIB said the occupants of the dinghy were attempting to cross from France to England when the vessel became flooded and partially sank, causing them to enter the water.
At least 27 people lost their lives, two survived and four remain missing.
The MAIB stated that the only way those onboard could raise the alarm was via mobile phone.
There were “multiple boats” attempting to cross the Dover Strait and each made several distress calls.
This made it “extremely challenging for HM Coastguard to locate and identify discrete boats”, the investigation found.
At the time of the accident, a number of HM Coastguard “capacity enhancements” had been identified but were not in place, the MAIB said.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made stopping the small boats one of his five key pledges
PA
The report recommended that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Border Force develop procedures to ensure “effective surveillance” of the Dover Strait is possible when aircraft are unavailable.
It also recommended that the MCA works with the French authorities to agree ways of improving “the transfer of information” between the UK and French coastguard agencies during migrant crossings.
Andrew Moll, chief inspector of marine accidents, said: “This was a tragic accident in which many lives were lost.
“Our investigation has closely examined the events on the night to understand, as best we can, what went wrong so lessons can be learned to ensure a dreadful night like this is not repeated.
“The events of November 24 2021 were complex with multiple inflatable boats that were unsuitable and ill-equipped for the journey attempting to cross the Dover Strait to England.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made stopping the small boats one of his five key pledges.
But since the start of this year, nearly 27,000 migrants have arrived via the English Channel, according to the latest official figures.
That’s a third down on the same time last year.
The Illegal Migration Act brought into law the Government’s Rwanda policy of sending those arriving by small boats to the east African country.
Ministers are currently awaiting a Supreme Court judgment on whether the policy is lawful.
