Southampton Port receives rescued Algerian illegal migrants

On the 8th May, the Sea Princess, one of Ocean Cruises cruise ships, rescued 8 Algerian illegal migrants from a trawler off the coast of Gibraltar.

The cruise ship, which had 1950 passengers on board, were able to treat the Algerian illegal migrants in the ships medical centre and reported all of them to be in good health.

Under international marine law, shipping and passenger boats are obliged to  save people and transport them to a save port.  This means that the migrants were kept aboard the vessel until it docks in Southampton Port.

At Southampton, they will be considered as asylum seekers and processed appropriately by immigration services.

Published by: Andy Skinner