Initially, the Greek-owned 18,300-dwt Evita-K (built 1995) came to the assistance of a distressed boat with 89 refugees on board.

All of them – including 11 women, 11 children, one baby and one man in a wheelchair – were brought on board the bulk carrier, where they were given food and water.

Later on, Evita-K joined the ro-ro Saint Roch (built 1980) in its effort to rescue another refugee boat with 198 people on board.

Amid