According to the Slovenian defence ministry, the Italian maritime rescue coordination centre on Tuesday asked for help after a dinghy carrying refugees got into trouble. Triglav, a multi-purpose patrol boat, answered the call. It rescued the refugees, who were then transferred to an Italian army ship sailing nearby.

Mission extended until mid-May
Last Wednesday, Triglav 11 and her 37 crew left the port of Augusta, Italy to participate in a regular drill as part of Operation Sophia, an EU-led military mission. The main purpose of Operation Sophia is to seize boats smuggling refugees in the Mediterranean. Due to the great work of the crew, the Slovenian Armed Forces extended Triglav’s participation in the mission in the southern Mediterranean waters until mid-March. Triglav’s mission was initially set to expire by the end of January.

More than 1,200 refugees rescued
Triglav was not the only boat that rescued people. The Italian coast guard said that on Tuesday alone, a total of 1,271 refugees were rescued in multiple operations in international waters between Libya and Italy. The refugees tried to reach Europe in rubber dinghies and wooden boats.

A. P. J.; translated by D. V.