The Guardamar-Polimnia: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

On the night of May 8, a significant maritime rescue effort unfolded off the coast of Lanzarote, where the lifeboat 'Guardamar Polimnia' successfully rescued 59 individuals from a precarious patera. Among those rescued were a baby and two young girls. The migrants were subsequently brought to shore at Arrecife on the morning of May 9. On the same day, the 'Guardamar Urania' conducted another rescue operation, retrieving 62 boat people from an inflatable craft that had set sail from Cape Bojador in Western Sahara. These individuals were later transported to Arguineguín for safety. The majority of those rescued were North African males, though the group also included four sub-Saharan Africans and one woman. Both rescue missions were coordinated by the CCS of Salvamento Marítimo based in Las Palmas, showcasing a collaborative effort in responding to maritime emergencies. Notably, the tank vessel 'Nathea' (IMO: 1015088) and the vehicle carrier 'Glovis Symphony' (IMO: 9702429) were in proximity and provided valuable assistance during these rescue operations. For more details and visuals from the rescues, visit the official report: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/2053124178102874438.

On April 6, 2026, a heroic rescue operation off the coast of Arrecife brought 37 migrants to safety, including four women, after they were found stranded on an inflatable vessel. The perilous boat had departed from Tan Tan, and after a challenging night of search efforts hampered by uncertain coordinates from the CCS of Salvamento Marítimo in Las Palmas, the rescue aircraft Sasemar 103 successfully located the distressed boat. The 'Guardamar Polimnia' swiftly intervened, retrieving the occupants 41 nautical miles northeast of Lanzarote and transporting them to safety in Arrecife. Fortunately, all individuals onboard were reported to be in good health following the operation. For further details and updates, check the report with photo: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/2041130353327255717.

In a remarkable display of humanitarian effort, Salvamento Marítimo's CCS Las Palmas swiftly deployed the 'Guardamar Polimnia' to assist two vulnerable vessels located 14 and 20 nautical miles east and southeast of Arrecife. The first boat was carrying 56 individuals, consisting of 53 men and three women. Following the rescue, the 'Guardamar Polimnia' moved to the second vessel, which also housed 56 people, including 50 men, four women, and two minors. This two-pronged operation resulted in a successful rescue of a total of 112 individuals, with the team arriving back in Arrecife at 6:00 a.m. on the same day. Simultaneously, the CCS Valencia of Salvamento Marítimo coordinated the rescue of seven Sub-Saharan migrants, who were found approximately 30 kilometers from Alicante by the 'Salvamar Leo'. These castaways were safely transported to Alicante Port at 6:30 a.m. Visit this [link](https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1983808864697962813) for a detailed report accompanied by images.

In a remarkable operation on October 18, 2023, the 'Guardamar Polimnia' successfully rescued 47 migrants of Maghrebi origin from a distressed inflatable boat located approximately 61 nautical miles northeast of Lanzarote. The rescue mission, orchestrated by the Central Coordination Centre (CCS) of Salvamento Marítimo in Las Palmas, began at 6:53 a.m. local time when the disembarkation of the migrants started at the port of Arrecife. Notably, two merchant vessels in proximity played crucial roles in this life-saving endeavor. The bulk carrier 'Federal Imabari' (IMO: 9774331), sailing from Annaba to Nouakchott, and the container ship 'Dagmar' (IMO: 9354399), en route from Agadir to Algeciras, lent their assistance to the emergency operation. This collaborative effort highlights the importance of maritime solidarity in humanitarian crises. For further details, you can view the official report with accompanying images at https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1979483460348567735.

On October 16, 2023, the search operation for missing migrants near Lanzarote intensified as the Guardamar Polimnia and the Sasemar 103 aircraft deployed early in the morning. The swift action follows an incident where a merchant vessel intercepted one of two inflatable boats. As a desperate measure to reach the ship, at least eight individuals from the boat jumped into the sea, with five still unaccounted for. In addition, a third inflatable boat remains untraceable, prompting officials to ramp up rescue efforts in the area. The maritime community is closely monitoring the situation as hope continues to wane for the missing individuals.

In a dramatic early morning operation on September 20, the Canaria Search and Rescue Center (CCS) in Las Palmas received an urgent call from the fishing vessel 'Santuario Barquereño'. The vessel reported sighting a small boat carrying approximately 50 individuals, situated around 60 nautical miles from Arrecife. The migrants onboard the inflatable craft were reported to be adrift, having exhausted their fuel supply. In response to this urgent situation, the rescue ship 'Guardamar Polimnia' was deployed and successfully reached the stranded migrants around four hours later. After the rescue, the migrants were brought safely to the port of Arrecife, with disembarkation occurring at 7:30 a.m. This operation underscores the ongoing challenges faced in maritime migration and the rapid response capabilities of Spanish rescue services.

On August 3, 2025, the Spanish rescue vessel 'Guardamar Polimnia' successfully rescued more than 100 migrants from a perilous situation south of Gran Canaria. Tragically, one individual lost their life during the ordeal, while another was critically injured and required immediate medical attention via air evacuation to Gran Canaria. The incident began around 6:50 p.m. when the French research ship 'Beautemps-Beaupré' (IMO: 9098361) spotted an overcrowded vessel approximately 185 kilometers off the Moroccan coast near Dakhla. Following this sighting, the 'Guardamar Polimnia' was dispatched and reached the scene after an extensive 11-hour journey. The 'Beautemps-Beaupré' remained in the vicinity, supporting the Spanish maritime rescue operations at the request of Salvamento Marítimo until the SAR vessel arrived. Upon reaching the distressed migrants, the crew of 'Guardamar Polimnia' facilitated their transfer on board and set a course for the port of Arguineguín in Gran Canaria. The critically injured person was airlifted by the SAR helicopter Helimer 202 and landed at Gran Canaria Airport at 3:55 p.m., where an ambulance awaited to transport the patient to a hospital for further care. The rescued migrants safely arrived at the port of Arguineguín at 8:40 p.m., ending an intense day of rescue efforts.

On June 1, Salvamento Marítimo successfully rescued 44 migrants from a small boat located around 50 nautical miles off the coast of Lanzarote. The operation began early in the morning when the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in Las Palmas received an initial distress call around 7:00 a.m., which reported a vessel in need of assistance without providing specific details. Shortly after, a second call clarified that the migrants were aboard a small boat that was close to a larger merchant vessel. The rescue vessel 'Guardamar Polimnia' was promptly dispatched to the site. The crew of the m/v 'Hyperion Ray' provided crucial assistance by guiding the lifeboat to the distressed craft. By 11 a.m., the crew aboard 'Guardamar Polimnia' located the migrants and initiated the rescue, ensuring that all 44 individuals, who were identified as sub-Saharan Africans, were safely brought on board without any reported health issues. The group ultimately arrived in Arrecife around 1:30 p.m., marking a successful operation by the maritime rescue teams.

On the afternoon of May 8, 2025, a significant rescue operation unfolded as the rescue vessel 'Guardamar Polimnia' successfully saved 88 migrants of sub-Saharan descent from two precarious inflatable boats. The first boat was discovered 41 nautical miles northeast of Lanzarote, while the second was located 27 miles to the east of the island. The search and rescue efforts were sparked by an emergency call received at 4:56 p.m., prompting immediate action from authorities. The boat sighted northeast of Arrecife was found approximately 104 kilometers from the city. The Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) promptly dispatched the 'Guardamar Polimnia,' which managed to board 54 individuals, including 10 unaccompanied minors, by 9:51 p.m. After the rescue, the vessel made its way back, reaching the port of Arrecife around 1:05 a.m. However, not all of those rescued were in satisfactory health conditions. Emergency reports from Centro Coordinador de Emergencias y Seguridad (CECOES) indicated that one individual required immediate medical attention at the Doctor José Molina Orosa Hospital for further examination. This operation underscores the ongoing maritime challenges faced in the region as well as the vital efforts made by authorities to ensure the safety of vulnerable migrants. For further details, you can view the report with photos at https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1920542662542725562.

On the afternoon of February 11, 2023, the rescue vessel 'Guardamar Polimnia' undertook a significant operation, assisting two overcrowded boats off the coast of Lanzarote. The first vessel, which was located approximately 47 kilometers east of the island, had 60 individuals on board. Soon after, a merchant ship reported spotting a second boat in the vicinity, prompting the 'Guardamar Polimnia' to transfer the 37 people aboard that vessel as well. After the successful rescue, all 97 migrants were brought to safety at the port of Arrecife, where they received necessary medical attention and support from local health and security services. For more details, visit: https://x.com/salvamentogob/status/1889348506093035913