(19th March 2016) – On 17th March 2016, around 9 pm, a team from HMBS Durward Knowles, under the command of Acting Lieutenant Commander Carlon Bethel, discovered 18 Cubans (17 males, 1 female) on Cay Lobos, a tiny islet just over 100 nautical miles west of the Ragged Island Chain. Their vessel, which had apparently sprung a leak and proved otherwise unseaworthy, was also found beached near to where they were discovered.
The Cuban migrants, who all appeared to be in good health, were placed onboard HMBS Durward Knowles where they were transported to Ragged Island. The migrants have been turned over to Immigration department for further processing and transportation to New Providence.
HMBS Durward Knowles was commissioned in 2014 and is one of the 4 Legend Class vessels procured by the Bahamas Government under the Sandy Bottom Project to increase the effectiveness of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s fleet.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains committed to monitoring and protecting the territorial waters of The Bahamas.
