From Cayman Islands Customs and Border Control

Diplomatic talks were held earlier in December with the Cayman Islands Government and a delegation from Cuba. The talks included strategies aiming for greater search and rescue coordination to save lives, shortening the time it takes to return migrants to Cuba and targeting of human smugglers for prosecution. 

A few days later, the Cayman Islands Coast Guard Operation’s & Rescue Coordination Centre (CICG ORCC) facilitated with a rescue when they received a call on 14 December from a vessel named the MV Hellespont Pride advising that they found eight (8) Cuban nationals adrift at approximately 35 miles south of mainland Cuba.

The CICG ORCC contacted the Cuban Border Guard (CBG) and informed them of the information from the vessel and inquired if they were in a position to meet with MV Hellespont Pride to disembark the eight (8) Cubans nationals. The CBG confirmed that they were in a position to meet the MV Hellespont Pride just outside of Cuban territorial waters, specifically thirteen (13) miles from Port of Santiago de Cuba. The CICG ORCC contacted the owners of the MV Hellespont Pride and facilitated a direct line of communication between the two entities for the rescue to take place.

The Captain of the MV Hellespont Pride met at the CBG Patrol Vessel at the agreed location whereby the Cuban Nationals were then transported back to Cuba.