On 14 April 2018 at 0037 UTC, an initial MEOSAR detection for the EPIRB of the French “Banque Populaire” 32-m Maxi Trimaran IX was received at the Cospas-Sarsat French Mission Control Center (FMCC). The distress alert was immediately forwarded to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) Gris-Nez, the Search and Rescue Point of Contact (SPOC) for all French vessels on every ocean around in the globe.
Thanks to the information retrieved from the beacon registration database, the investigation led by the MRCC Gris-Nez allowed the cause of the distress of the sail boat to be identified. The crew of three persons sheltered inside the boat confirmed they had capsized off the coast of Morocco some minutes beforehand. MRCC Gris-Nez assisted Moroccan MRCC Rabat which was in charge of the rescue operation coordination on scene.
(More information (En) at: http://www.mysailing.com.au/latest/trimaran-banque-populaire-capsizes-off-the-coast-of-morocco, (Fr) at https://www.eurosport.fr/voile/le-maxi-trimaran-banque-populaire-ix-a-chavire-au-large-du-maroc_sto6712732/story.shtml)