At least 56 people survive after early morning rescue involving French coastguard Four people died overnight trying to cross the Channel to reach Britain A rescue operation took place off Boulogne-sur-Mer on France’s northern coast after reports of people in the sea Four of those pulled from the sea had drowned At least 56 survivors were rescued early on Friday morning They are being cared for by the French authorities Sources in northern France said this was a particularly dangerous week for crossings because the weather was very changeable with only six-hour windows of favourable weather for crossings The boat was launched off the coast near Boulogne-sur-Mer at about 2am French time The drownings happened after one of the tubes from the dinghy the group were travelling in deflated according to the French maritime prefect of the Channel and North Sea After the alarm was raised by a French fishing boat in the area the French coastguard spotted the dinghy at 4.30am and a French navy boat and a helicopter were drafted in to assist with picking up those onboard Three people who were found unconscious in the water and a fourth found clinging to the wreckage of the dinghy could not be resuscitated The survivors were taken to the quayside at Boulogne He said the boat was “very poor quality … under-inflated and under-motorised” “Only one migrant was wearing a lifejacket A few others had inner tubes,” Billant said An HM Coastguard spokesperson said assistance was offered to the French coastguard “An RNLI lifeboat from Dover and Border Force vessel were initially sent to provide support but were not required to attend the scene,” they said Billant said a second migrant boat was rescued on Friday after leaving Le Touquet with 40 people onboard The deaths are the first to happen since Keir Starmer took office as UK prime minister. He has pledged to stop the criminal gangs responsible for organising Channel crossings, but it is unlikely any new policy can be put into action quickly enough to make a dent in the peak in crossings through the summer months. The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: “The further loss of life in the Channel this morning is truly awful. My thoughts are with all those affected. Criminal gangs are making vast profit from putting lives at risk. We are accelerating action with international partners to pursue and bring down dangerous smuggler gangs.” The last major incident was on 23 April when five people died off the French coast trying to reach the UK. The deaths take the total number killed on the perilous crossing from France to Britain this year to 19. Home Office figures show 419 people made the journey across the Channel from France in six boats on Tuesday. The figures mean there was an average of about 70 people on each boat and take the provisional total for 2024 to date to 14,058, according to PA Media. The chief executive of the Refugee Council, Enver Solomon, said: “This devastating loss of life in the Channel highlights the scale of the challenge facing the new government. Preventing more deaths which are now happening too often is a critical and urgent task. “We need to bring an end to men, women and children who have fled war and oppression in countries such as Afghanistan, Syria and Iran being driven into the arms of the smuggling gangs by opening safe routes so refugees wanting to be with their families are not forced to take deadly risks. We also need to put in place cooperation agreements with our European allies to provide safe passage from France and trial the use of refugee visas.” The shadow home secretary, James Cleverly, tweeted: “Reports of more deaths in the Channel are a tragedy. As a country we must do everything in our power to stop the boats and put an end to this vile trade in human suffering.” said the news of more lives lost in the Channel was “deeply upsetting” and it should prompt politicians to create safe routes “Every life lost in the Channel is avoidable and politicians have the power to end these tragedies,” he said “Channel crossings are fuelled by a lack of safe routes to claim asylum in the UK and as a refugee charity that operates in both northern France and the UK we know the only way to stop crossings and save lives is to open safe routes the chief executive of Safe Passage International said the tragedy “was entirely preventable” and required urgent action to stop it happening again She said: “Sunak’s government took a cruel approach to refugees’ lives failed to break the smugglers’ grip on dangerous journeys and refused to open safe alternatives A new government is an opportunity for a radically different direction Rather than continuing an anti-refugee approach the new government must urgently open safe routes and restore the right to seek protection so people fleeing war and persecution have safe ways to reach the UK.” In a report published on Friday the UN refugee agency called on the UK government to uphold the right to asylum and for regional and international cooperation to deal with refugee issues arrivals across the Channel have generated a perception of crisis often obscuring the desperation driving these journeys as refugees move in search of safety and stability While the challenges of addressing irregular movements of refugees and migrants are real practical solutions are at hand that work for states and refugees.” A ferry company using a specially adapted catamaran is starting to take bookings for cross-Channel crossings between Dover and Boulogne-sur-Mer the trip should take between four and five hours it had experimented to see if there was demand during the peak holiday season “Developing this venture has been one small step after another made with many people and partners and now we are just at the start,” said Andrew Simons Read more: New hybrid ferry to run on Normandy-Portsmouth route next month this project represents a simple but very symbolic piece of a world that I would like to see where we make use of naturally prevailing forces - the wind and tide - which make it the most natural and obvious way to travel.” was bought in the south of France and renovated in 2024 in a €400,000 project financed by Mr Simons and several investors Another €100,000 had to be raised to launch the service Clients can usually help with the running of the catamaran once it has cleared the busy harbours The sailing ferry has berths in marinas in Dover and Boulogne with car parking nearby and the company has plans to put in a diesel-electric hybrid motor.  Read more: What is the best way to travel between London and Paris? Each trip will have a captain and a crew member on board The catamaran will be registered in Britain but the UK company is also opening a French unit to help with the paperwork required to operate from France The announcement follows a similar one by sail powered cargo company TransOceanic Wind, which says it will carry a limited number of passengers on routes across the Atlantic. A formal schedule and prices will be revealed later this year, after 3,000 people contacted the firm, TransOceanic Wind Transport, out of the blue to ask about crossings. Passenger prices are expected to be in the range of €2,000 to €3,000 per person, potentially with discounts if passengers return to France with the company as well. The first regular New York runs, all of which will follow the southern ‘great circle’ route past the Canary Islands, will be done with just four passengers. Recent power cut in Spain and Portugal is warning to holidaymakers to ensure they are prepared for worst-case scenario Fears of a ‘black week’ on the network have been widely dismissed - although regional lines will see cancellations You don't have permission to access the page you requested. What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed. Few of those making the journey had life jackets and her three adolescent children were among the Eritrean migrants who had gathered at Boulogne-Sur-Mer to try to cross the Channel on Tuesday morning Fearing a similar outcome in other European Union nations Amna said she was aware of the risks."Who throws their kids into the sea unless they have no other choice," she said "We just want to live and for (my children) to study."As the dinghy pulled away from the beach and watched with horror as her children headed out to sea without her.Later when the boat capsized panic erupted."People started screaming and pulling each other down," said 20-year-old Abdelwahab where he arrived in July."I want to fulfil my dreams in the UK," he said "I want to learn English and find a job said his shoulder was dislocated as the boat sank and people scrambled for safety He only survived by clutching onto a piece of driftwood until rescuers arrived around 15 minutes later.Amna's three children survived.($1 = 0.9033 euros)Reporting by Amina Ismail in Boulogne-sur-Mer; Additional reporting by Marta Fiorin in Boulogne-sur-Mer; Writing by Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Sandra Maler Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved A view of one of the vessels from the French Gendarmerie Nationale in the port of Boulogne-Sur-Mer after participating in the rescue operation after a boat carrying migrants ripped apart attempting to cross the English Channel In this grab taken from video provided by BFM Littoral emergency services at the port of Boulogne-Sur-Mer after a boat thought to be carrying migrants ripped apart attempting to cross the English Channel France (AP) — A boat carrying migrants ripped apart in the English Channel as they attempted to reach Britain from northern France on Tuesday plunging dozens into the treacherous waterway and leaving 12 dead Most of the victims were believed to be women and many of the passengers didn’t have life preservers with one calling it the deadliest migrant accident in the channel this year the bottom of the boat ripped open,” said Olivier Barbarin where a first aid post was set up to treat victims “If people don’t know how to swim in the agitated waters .. Rescuers pulled a total of 65 people from the English Channel on Tuesday in a search that lasted more than four hours a spokesman for the French agency that oversees the stretch of sea where the boat ripped apart director of the Civil Protection authority whose personnel looks after rescued migrants once they reach land said the people his team attended Tuesday were traumatized “What needs to be said is that they shouldn’t cross,” Beernaert told the AP Many of those aboard the vessel that broke up in the English Channel on Tuesday didn’t have life vests two fishing boats and more than six other vessels were involved in the rescue operation The agency overseeing the rescue operation in the English Channel said the boat got into difficulty off Gris-Nez point between Boulogne-sur-Mer and the port of Calais further north Sea temperatures off northern France were around 20 degrees C Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin went to Boulogne-sur-Mer to meet those involved in handling what he described as the “terrible shipwreck.” He said the boat was frail and small — less than 7 meters (23 feet) long — and that smugglers are packing more and more people aboard such vessels Most of the people on the boat were believed to be from Eritrea agreed to deepen cooperation on illegal migration in the channel “We absolutely must — and this is a very important point — re-establish special relations with our British friends,” Darmanin said on Tuesday He later told the AP that to successfully tackle smuggling networks “It has now been 30 years that these problems remain and it is absolutely necessary that we find solutions,” said Barbarin Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called it “a horrifying and deeply tragic incident” and paid tribute to French rescuers “who undoubtedly saved many lives “The gangs behind this appalling and callous trade in human lives have been cramming more and more people onto increasingly unseaworthy dinghies and sending them out into the Channel even in very poor weather,” she said “They do not care about anything but the profits they make and that is why — as well as mourning the awful loss of life — the work to dismantle these dangerous and criminal smuggler gangs and to strengthen border security is so vital and must proceed apace.” At least 2,109 migrants have tried to cross the English Channel on small boats in the past seven days The data includes people found in the channel or on arrival Associated Press writer Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed as we cruise out of Dover’s Outer Marina between two lighthouses marking the western exit The only sound is the waves slapping against the twin hulls."},"children":[]}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"I’m aboard the first passenger “ferry” to link Dover to Boulogne since 2010 That’s when the low-cost LD Lines ended its relatively short stint operating this route not able to turn a profit — P&O previously operated Dover to Boulogne but stopped when the Channel Tunnel opened "},"children":[]}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"This ferry powered mainly by the wind; it also carries only 12 people and a few bikes,"},"children":[]},{"name":"paywall","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":" if you fancy bringing one along."},"children":[]}]}]},{"name":"paywall","children":[{"name":"image","attributes":{"id":"e9cfb63a-a790-4e1c-be47-713b5d4ddf5f","display":"fullwidth","caption":"Rachel Mills at the helm of the catamaran Echoes","title":"Two people at the helm of a sailboat on the open ocean.","credits":null,"url":"https://www.thetimes.com/imageserver/image/%2F53d89692-c072-4450-8981-d346c338640a.jpg?crop=1600%2C1200%2C0%2C0","ratio":"1600:1200","relativeHorizontalOffset":0,"relativeVerticalOffset":0,"relativeWidth":1,"relativeHeight":1},"children":[]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"The crossing operates a few times a week and takes roughly 4 hours 15 minutes compared to the 1 hour 30 minutes of LD Lines though hopping on at the marina and not having to wait for vehicle boarding with security checks done online in advance There are a few car parks close to the marina or it’s a 20-minute walk from the train station via the high street and pedestrian/cyclist underpass."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"SailLink has been years in the planning its aim to make wind-powered transportation more accessible particularly in a world of depleting fossil fuels a far nicer port of call than Calais for a short trip to France plus £15 per bike."}}]},{"name":"ad","children":[]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"The founder and skipper Andrew Simons envisages that SailLink will fill the gap between ferry and sailing charter; he’s betting that it’ll especially appeal to cycle tourists and eco-travellers Simons is a boatbuilder by trade and thinks now is the time for greener passenger ferries: “There’s big interest in sail technology — it’s on the cusp of real change solar-panel technology and fully recyclable composite construction of vessels are all developing 57ft sailing catamaran — makes up SailLink’s entire fleet It has comfortable indoor and outdoor covered seating and its twin hulls mean more stability the crew suggests sitting outside and looking at a fixed point on the horizon or taking the helm (steering the boat) — something they are happy for passengers to try We veered violently from port (left) to starboard (right) during the few minutes I took the wheel and I think everyone was relieved when I sat down the wind blows up or down the Channel — from the southwest or northeast — and because Echoes sails straight (ish) across from Dover to Boulogne it can make use of those winds equally hotel reviews and advice ","label":"In your inbox","date-to":"2025-03-20","headline":"Travel newsletter","imageUri":"https://www.thetimes.com/imageserver/image/methode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F78677f6f-e092-4e65-a858-70b1c78fc048.jpg?resize=800","date-from":"2025-03-20"}}},"children":[]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"There’s also a strong tidal stream in the Channel that Simons calls a “conveyor belt of the seas” This tide comes in and up the Channel and then flows out again rushing towards the Atlantic."}}]},{"name":"inlineAd1","children":[]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"So en route to Boulogne Echoes sails on the ebb (falling) tide and en route to Dover it sails on the flood (rising) tide Because tide times change slightly each day "}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"“We can’t be perfect from day one,” Simons concedes and rules say that we have to use our engines to get in and out of harbour But we want to change those to solar-powered when we can.” This isn’t a sleek It’s not the perfect iteration of sustainability or customer comfort and Simons has no interest in hosting drinks parties or sunset cruises — though he’d happily go for a drink with you in the pub once Echoes is docked In the galley pictures drawn by Simons’s young children are tacked up and one of the crew is likely to be a family friend helping out simply because they love to sail A round of cuppas is brewed from time to time and biscuits are produced from tupperware or homemade cheese scones from a tin Blankets or extra hats are dug out from a hatch if a passenger looks cold and if you need to use the onboard loo then someone will be on hand to help you take off your waterproofs and unclip the crotch strap on your lifejacket (yes there’s a crotch strap on your lifejacket) The English Channel is the world’s busiest shipping lane and navigating it is not unlike playing an arcade game At sea the general rule is that motor gives way to sail where it’s our skipper’s responsibility to weave between hulking great container ships that must stick to their lane It’s fascinating and I spend most of my time on the breezy bridge deck listening in as the crew use the radio to communicate with the port authorities trim the mainsail (translation: adjust the sail’s angle to the wind) raise the French flag at the halfway point or consider whether to sail behind or ahead of distant container ships which look — to me — as if they’re not moving at all."}}]},{"name":"inlineAd2","children":[]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"On our crossing there’s plenty of time to chat to crew and fellow passengers to spot seals (a couple of inquisitive faces pop up beside us) and even to learn to read the skipper’s compass and tie knots I can now be relied upon to tie a decent bowline knot — pronounced "}},{"name":"italic","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"boh-lin "}}]},{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"— if ever it’s needed in an emergency."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"At Boulogne we surf in on the tide to the shriek of gulls and the sun setting behind us We’re moored at a pontoon in the heart of the city and though you must wait for officials to arrive and stamp passports to enter the Schengen area it really feels like you’ve arrived in style "}}]},{"name":"image","attributes":{"id":"3950f98a-e1e3-437f-9b18-3e28c28b11dc","display":"fullwidth","caption":"Boulogne has excellent restaurants and great markets","title":"Rue de Lille street in Boulogne-sur-Mer In the 19th century a quarter of Boulogne’s population was British there’s a Promenade Charles Dickens on the castle ramparts and its Notre Dame Basilica (built to be seen from across the water) bears more than a passing resemblance to St Paul’s Cathedral Boulogne was once dedicated entirely to pleasure and despite its current iteration as an industrial fishing port this is a seaside city that is fond of British tourists long sandy beaches and beautiful old town."}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"On my trip we were able to sail the whole way to France but on the way back there was little wind and we had to use the engines for a stint Under wind power we sailed faster than when using Echoes’ two motors (about ten knots compared to six) and it was four hours there five hours back (compared with the 4-hour 15-minute estimate) when you use SailLink you might be early or you might be late on the rare occasions that the police aux frontières are unable to meet the boat have to be prepared to take a 30-minute train to Calais to get your passport stamped "}}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"Dress comfortably In my opinion the first SailLink passengers will be modern-day pioneers L’Hôtel La Matelote has B&B doubles from £95 ("}}]},{"name":"link","children":[{"name":"bold","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":"la-matelote.com"}}]}],"attributes":{"href":"http://www.la-matelote.com"}},{"name":"bold","children":[{"name":"text","children":[],"attributes":{"value":") SailLink launches on April 5 and has returns from £85 one-way along with unlimited digital access to The Times and The Sunday Times you can enjoy a collection of travel offers and competitions curated by our trusted travel partners especially for Times+ members"}}]}]}]}]},"summary({\"maxCharCount\":200})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"We are “now ready to proceed out western,” the skipper reports to Port Control by radio you can now avoid waiting for other vehicles to board and instead sail in style from Dover to Boulogne-sur-Mer by catamaranSailLink is offering the first passenger ferry to link Dover to Boulogne since 2010Rachel MillsThursday March 20 2025 The Sunday TimesWe are “now ready to proceed out western,” the skipper reports to Port Control by radio The only sound is the waves slapping against the twin hulls I’m aboard the first passenger “ferry” to link Dover to Boulogne since 2010 not able to turn a profit — P&O previously operated Dover to Boulogne but stopped when the Channel Tunnel opened powered mainly by the wind; it also carries only 12 people and a few bikes EchoesThe crossing operates a few times a week and takes roughly 4 hours 15 minutes or it’s a 20-minute walk from the train station via the high street and pedestrian/cyclist underpass The founder and skipper Andrew Simons envisages that SailLink will fill the gap between ferry and sailing charter; he’s betting that it’ll especially appeal to cycle tourists and eco-travellers It won’t be long before hydrofoil sail boats crossing the Channel could be a reality.” • 25 of the most beautiful villages in France You can also clip on to explore up forward on the boat or sit on the bow in the wind and spray That means a “close reach” (slightly into the wind) or “beam reach” (wind directly from the side) point of sail — if you want the maritime terminology — and catamarans love these conditions There’s also a strong tidal stream in the Channel that Simons calls a “conveyor belt of the seas” So en route to Boulogne Echoes sails on the ebb (falling) tide and en route to Dover it sails on the flood (rising) tide “We can’t be perfect from day one,” Simons concedes Boulogne-sur-Mer is a wonderful seaside townYANNICK CADART / CD62To me SailLink feels like the business equivalent of a nice friend who offers to take you out on their boat • 13 of the best UK cruises Another great thing about small-vessel sailing is being up close to the crew as they get to work which look — to me — as if they’re not moving at all On our crossing there’s plenty of time to chat to crew and fellow passengers I can now be relied upon to tie a decent bowline knot — pronounced boh-lin — if ever it’s needed in an emergency At Boulogne we surf in on the tide to the shriek of gulls and the sun setting behind us Boulogne has excellent restaurants and great marketsALAMYSpend a little time in Boulogne-sur-Mer and you realise how connected this city has always been to Britain — though perhaps it’s not such a good idea to mention Henry VIII invading in 1544 On my trip we were able to sail the whole way to France Become a subscriber and Discover how Paris 2024 became the most media-covered Olympic Games in history See how the Olympic Games’ communications team supported by Wiztrust’s tailored PR platform overcame complex challenges-from synchronizing teams and managing thousands of journalists to ensuring top-level security Learn how innovative digital tools and expert support enabled Paris 2024 to achieve record-breaking visibility and flawless brand protection Download the full Paris 2024 Success Case now and get inspired by the strategies behind this record-breaking achievement For further information and other cases please visit Wiztrust.com protect your company and its directors from disinformation and adopt the “trust mark” of the market leaders plan campaigns targeting your audiences through all channels (e-mail social media) and organise your activities and events improve results by exploiting your data's true depth Discover the best way to manage your PR & Marketing efficiently: Wiztrust is THE integrated communication platform for corporate professionals Prioritise your activities thanks to a clearer view on your assets Manage your communication thanks to a collaborative platform for you and your team Certify your corporate communication thanks to our blockchain-backed technology Save your team and yourself some precious time Learn more about Wiztrust in our case study. needs to be asked how many lives will be lost before they end these avoidable tragedies?" Steve Smith CEO of Care4Calais NGO said."Their continued obsession in security measures is not reducing crossings it is simply pushing people to take ever increasing risks to do so."Reporting by Tassilo Hummel Michael Holden in London; Writing by Ingrid Melander Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Peter Graff You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Guirec Le Bras, the Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor, confirmed at least 12 people died – including six minors and 10 females. Adding that those who died were “primarily of Eritrean origin”, but that officials “do not have consolidated details that would allow us to specify the exact nationalities”. Fewer than eight people were wearing lifejackets on the overcrowded vessel, according to French Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin. Rescuers saved 51 people from the boat, including two who are in a critical condition. A pregnant woman was among the 12 people who died after a boat carrying migrants capsized in the Channel, the mayor of Boulogne-sur-Mer, Frédéric Cuvillier, told the BBC. Speaking from Boulogne-sur-Mer, France’s interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, said the UK only “pays a fraction” of what the French government spends on preventing migrant deaths on the Channel. France’s interior minister, Gérald Darmanin a “migration treaty” between the UK and the European Union needs to be established. “We really do need to work together to stop these things happening,” he said. The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, described the deaths as a horrifying and deeply tragic incident.” Cooper emphasised the need to “dismantle” the criminal smuggler gangs who are cramming “more and more people on to increasingly unseaworthy dinghies, and sending them out into the Channel even in very poor weather.” Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, said “the number of deaths in the Channel this year has been shockingly high. It is a devastating trend that shows the urgent need for a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach to reduce dangerous Channel crossings.” 21,403 people have crossed the Channel this year, a slight increase in the same period as the previous year but far fewer than in 2022, when 45,755, the highest number since records began in 2018, made the journey. Approximately 83% of those who arrived in the 12 months to June were male, and 40% of them were aged between 25 and 39 years old. In July, four people died while attempting the crossing on an inflatable boat that capsized and punctured. Five others, including a child, died in another attempt in April. And five bodies were recovered from the sea, or found washed up on a beach, after a boat ran into difficulties in the dark and winter cold of January. The tragedy is believed to have been the second worst in number of fatalities since the small boats crisis began. Updated at 21.45 CEST3 Sept 202421.23 CESTHere’s our story covering the tragedy today The grimly familiar sight of body bags being unloaded from search and rescue boats was witnessed again by the reporters on the shores of Northern France on Tuesday. And again, ministers from both the UK and French governments expressed their horror at another mass drowning of people trying to reach the UK. The charities that work closely with asylum seekers say thatthe policies of both governments may be inadvertently increasing the number of deaths of people seeking safety in the UK. Charities and Labour figures such as Alfred Dubs have said that the reason that so many people fleeing war and torture are coming to the UK by small boats – including those from Syria, Sudan and Iran – is because there are no viable alternatives… Eagle says: “The quality of boats is deteriorating, so these crossings are getting more and more dangerous as time goes on. “They’re always dangerous, this is a very, very busy shipping lane, but the danger and the risk seems to be rising and today’s tragic incident is a representation of that.” Updated at 20.46 CEST3 Sept 202418.27 CESTSpeaking from Boulogne-sur-Mer, France’s interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, said the UK only “pays a fraction” of what the French government spends on preventing migrant deaths on the Channel. We have to absolutely re-establish some relations with our friends in the UK, and with the UK Government I’ve had a lot of conversations with the four interior ministers that visited the UK recently. And I think it’s really important that it’s the role of the government to negotiate … We need a treaty – a migration treaty between the UK and the European Union – because the people who go now [are] people from the core of Africa who want to go to the UK and they want to join their families and they actually work in conditions that would not be accepted [in] France. And so we really do need to work together to stop these things happening. Updated at 20.05 CEST3 Sept 202418.16 CESTAccording to the BBC, 21,403 people have crossed the Channel this year, a slight increase in the same period as the previous year but far fewer than in 2022, when 45,755, the highest number since records began in 2018, made the journey. As of the year ending June 2024, Afghans were the preponderant group making the journey across the Channel, followed by Iranian nationals. Approximately 83% of those who arrived in the 12 months to June were male, and 40% of them were aged between 25 and 39 years old. Updated at 18.20 CEST3 Sept 202418.00 CESTCEO of global children’s charity Plan International UK, Rose Caldwell, has called on the government to establish safe routes to the UK for asylum seekers. No one – let alone a child – should ever have to risk their life to find safety, but the current lack of safe routes means this is often the only option. It is essential that the Government now develops a framework to improve and expand safe routes for claiming asylum to ensure that no one else will have to risk their lives to find safety. 3 Sept 202417.55 CESTBefore Tuesday, the French coastguard had recorded at least 19 Channel crossing deaths in 2024, including nine since the start of July. The International Organisation for Migration, which records Channel crossing deaths, estimates 238 people including 35 children are missing or have died in the last 10 years up to January 2024. This post was amended on 13 September 2024; 238 not 226 people, as an earlier post said, are missing or have died; and these figures relate to the past 10 years. Updated at 11.04 CEST3 Sept 202417.37 CESTOn X, the shadow home secretary, James Cleverly, said: “This is tragic & it cannot continue. “It is not enough to talk about ‘smashing the gangs’ when the real-life consequences are so serious. Labour must re-establish the deterrent that the NCA said we need to stop vulnerable people being exploited and secure our border.” Updated at 17.38 CEST3 Sept 202417.31 CESTHome secretary Yvette Cooper said:“What has happened off the coast at Le Portel is a horrifying and deeply tragic incident. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of all those who have lost their lives, and all those who have been seriously injured. I am in touch with my counterpart in France, Gérald Darmanin, and am being kept updated on the situation. We pay tribute to the French coastguard and emergency services who undoubtedly saved many lives, but sadly could not save everyone. We will await the results of the French investigation into how this particular incident unfolded. The gangs behind this appalling and callous trade in human lives have been cramming more and more people on to increasingly unseaworthy dinghies, and sending them out into the Channel even in very poor weather. They do not care about anything but the profits they make, and that is why – as well as mourning the awful loss of life – the work to dismantle these dangerous and criminal smuggler gangs and to strengthen border security is so vital and must proceed apace. At least 12 people died after their boat capsized in the Channel. The outgoing French interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, said that rescue operations were still underway to find two missing people. Olivier Barbarin, the mayor of Le Portel near the fishing port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, said that “unfortunately, the bottom of the boat ripped open.” Civil society groups spoke out about the incident. Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais said “every political leader, on both sides of our Channel, needs to be asked how many lives will be lost before they end these avoidable tragedies?” Alex Fraser, the British Red Cross UK director for refugee support, said “nobody risks their life travelling across the Channel in a small boat unless they feel they have no other choice. More safe routes are urgently needed.” 3 Sept 202416.51 CESTDiane TaylorSteve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais said “all of us, particularly our team in Calais, are devastated by this latest tragedy.” Every political leader, on both sides of our Channel, needs to be asked how many lives will be lost before they end these avoidable tragedies? Their continued obsession, and investment, in security measures is not reducing crossings, it is simply pushing people to take ever increasing risks to do so. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome is political lunacy. It’s time politicians were held accountable for their choice to dehumanise people seeking sanctuary from horrors back home. It’s time they ended these tragedies and introduced safe routes. 3 Sept 202416.30 CESTAlex Fraser the British Red Cross UK director for refugee support said that “we are devastated to hear that people have lost their lives while attempting to cross the Channel today.” “Nobody risks their life travelling across the Channel in a small boat unless they feel they have no other choice More safe routes are urgently needed to help prevent people from taking dangerous journeys to reach the UK,” he said Tuesday’s sinking underlines how security around Calais has led to dinghies launching further along the coast – and taking bigger risks at sea The local fishing crews had been finishing their long night’s work catching lobster and crab off the northern French port of Boulogne-sur-Mer when the mayday alert came in Axel Baheu and Gaëtan Baillet immediately rushed to their two boats to assist in the rescue A small inflatable dinghy had ripped apart in the Channel with at least 60 people What the fishers saw would haunt them for ever One girl, who Baheu estimated had been between 15 and 20, had carefully placed her phone in a plastic pocket, firmly secured around her neck. The phone was ringing as her body was brought to shore. Of the approximately 65 people on board, only eight had lifejackets. One had been carrying a swimming float. who has never before had to pull a body from the water said the dinghy had been going down rapidly: “Only a little bit at the back was left was the deadliest such incident since 27 people died in November 2021 It exemplifies a dangerous new development in small boat crossings: the use of departure points increasingly further afield from Calais The location of the sinking underlines how smugglers are responding to high security in Calais by encouraging people to board boats further along the north coast – increasing the risks because the boats then have farther to travel to reach England Le Portel is a classic northern seaside town of 10,000 people adjoining Boulogne-sur-Mer it set up a medical rescue station as the survivors and the dead were brought ashore A French patrol boat escorts another dinghy in the waters off Boulogne on Wednesday Photograph: Nicolas Garriga/APOnly a few years ago the popular tourist spot had never seen people fleeing countries in Africa Asia and the Middle East attempting to get to England But now there are such regular attempts to set sail here that dog walkers often find piles of clothes by the shore after a boat has left or even see groups of people walking along the beach to board dinghies It was mid afternoon on Tuesday when Cédric Toupet The 12 bodies lay under white sheets at the impromptu medical centre on the quay Toupet was asked to take the dead to hospital for medical and legal examination Twelve people dying is extremely difficult There are a growing number of these tragedies it was happening around Calais or Dunkirk; now it is increasing in the Boulogne area which unfortunately no one is offering them.” looked out to sea near where the survivors had been brought to shore He said: “There is great sadness and heartbreak and the crying of children who have been saved but who may have lost a big sister or brother.” small boat crossings did not happen in Le Portel 72 hours don’t go by on my beach without a departure or attempted departure – often there are too many people to board the boat He said that whereas once 30 to 40 people would be crammed into an inflatable boat Boats often departed in the early hours of the morning but increasingly they were also leaving during the day he added – even in summer while other children on the beach built sandcastles and tourists sunbathed in bikinis He described the incongruous sight of women and children crying as they tried to squeeze on to a boat while other children playing in the sand watched “open-mouthed” Le Portel town hall is often used to distribute food and clothes to people who have been rescued who tell me they absolutely want to reach England,” Barbarin said or they are persuaded they can get work in England without papers.” He is worried that calm weather in September and October will lead to more attempted crossings with 21,615 having made the journey this year The French home affairs minister, Gérald Darmanin, said France was stopping 60% of crossings and that 1,700 police and gendarmes were stationed on the coast but called for the EU and Britain to negotiate a new treaty on migration Gérald Darmanin meets rescuers who went to the aid of the sinking dinghy on Tuesday Photograph: Benoît Tessier/ReutersLocal people said they felt shame and sadness at the increasing number of deaths was walking her dog along the shore at Le Portel She said of the deaths: “It’s happening so regularly now I sometimes see piles of clothes by the shore I often see people who have been saved or stopped from crossing even children sitting here by the beach barefoot I saw dozens of people heading down to the beach An inflatable boat was prepared and set off but there were people trying to swim behind it They gave up because the water was so cold Then they were dripping wet and desperate on the beach.” said: “Everyone here thinks this is a complete catastrophe who works in the fishing industry at the port said: “People think England is El Dorado and want to get there Investigation opens in France into deaths as David Lammy says UK could process asylum claimants in third country Eight people died overnight trying to cross the Channel from France to England, French regional authorities have said, as the UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, said the government could follow Italy’s lead and process asylum claimants in a third country. The French maritime prefecture said 59 people were onboard the boat, which got into difficulty off the coast of France, and 51 of them were rescued. An investigation has been opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer public prosecutor’s office. A 10-month-old baby was among those taken to hospital with suspected hypothermia after the boat ran aground near Ambleteuse at about 1.15am on Sunday. All those who died were adult men. Responding to the reports, Lammy told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme that the government has been “discussing how we go after those gangs, in cooperation upstream with other European partners”. Keir Starmer will be in Italy on Monday for talks with the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, about her efforts to tackle the problem “and the work they have done, particularly, with Albania”. Lammy said: “They have a comprehensive scheme with Albania understanding that [the] Albania route, as well as the Channel and the southern Mediterranean, are routes which migrants use. So of course, because it has reduced the numbers, we are interested in discussing with Italy the schemes they have developed, not just with Albania.” But in a sign of government confusion over the issue, a Home Office source indicated that Lammy’s claim of a possible third-party scheme was not government policy. “It is not something we are working on,” the source said, adding that Italy’s plan to process asylum seekers in Albania could not be seen as having reduced the numbers because it was not fully operational yet. Italy, which receives the most migrant arrivals in the EU, opened the first of two planned camps in neighbouring Albania in August but has not yet sent people there. People will start to arrive at the camps only once both are open and operational. Starmer has said he is interested in the rollout of the policy, under which Albania will accept asylum seekers on Italy’s behalf while their claims are processed. The Pas-de-Calais prefecture said the deaths in the Channel overnight occurred off Ambleteuse in northern France. “Several migrants lost their lives,” a spokesperson said. Jacques Billant, the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, said the boat was “clearly torn on the rocks”. Those onboard included people from Eritrea, Sudan, Afghanistan and Egypt. Some survivors were taken to hospitals in Calais and Boulogne. Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, said it would be “unforgivable” to treat the frequency and scale of loss of life with a sense that it was inevitable, and urged the government not to rely on enforcement to curb the number of small boats. “Enforcement alone is not the solution. People are being forced into the arms of smugglers because they are desperate, fleeing violence and persecution in countries like Afghanistan, Syria and Sudan in search of safety. Smugglers will respond to tougher policing by making these refugees take bigger risks, with more perilous crossing points and more crowded boats,” he said. Free daily newsletterOur morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters Ministers are braced for more fatal crossings in the coming weeks. September has become one of the busiest months for irregular crossings over the last few years. Maritime authorities said on Saturday there had been numerous attempts to make the crossing in small boats in recent days, with 200 people rescued in 24 hours over Friday and Saturday alone. At least 12 people died off the northern French coast when their boat carrying dozens of people capsized this month. It was the deadliest such disaster this year, and 25 people had already died on crossings, up from 12 in 2023. The French and British governments have sought for years to stop the flow of people who pay smugglers thousands of euros a head for the passage to England from France onboard small boats. More than 800 people crossed the Channel to the UK on Saturday, according to provisional Home Office figures, the second-highest daily total this year. The 801 people were crammed into 14 boats, an average of 57 in each craft. The only day this year that saw a higher number of crossings was 18 June, when 882 people made the journey. More than 22,000 migrants and refugees have arrived in England by crossing the Channel since the beginning of this year, according to British officials. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. plunging more than 60 people into waters off France I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Six children and a pregnant woman were among at least 12 migrants who died on Tuesday when their boat was “ripped open” during the deadliest attempted Channel crossing this year More than 53 survivors were plucked from waters off Gris-Nez point, between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer during a major air and sea rescue operation A nearby rescue vessel was joined by two fishing boats Home secretary Yvette Cooper described the incident as “horrifying and deeply tragic” saying that French services “undoubtedly saved many lives Before the latest tragedy at least 30 people have died or gone missing while trying to cross to Britain this year according to the International Organisation for Migration – up from 24 in 2023 More than 2,100 people have arrived in Britain on small boats over the past seven days taking the provisional total this year to 21,403 Almost 70 migrants were crammed into a vessel only 23 feet (seven metres) long when it got into difficulty in open waters Border security and asylum minister Dame Angela Eagle said: “It is a worrying trend that boats are being filled with many more people than we have seen in past times And also the quality of boats is deteriorating so these crossings are getting more and more dangerous as time goes on Related: ‘I will never forgive myself’: Father recalls heartbreaking moment daughter died on small boat but the danger and the risk seem to be rising and today’s tragic incident is a representation of that.” Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor Guirec Le Bras told reporters He added that 10 of them were female and two were male with most of the migrants coming from Eritrea the Boulogne-sur-Mer mayor Frédéric Cuvillier told the BBC at the scene Labour has vowed to “smash” the people-smuggling gangs behind the crossings in part through increased cooperation with other European nations Ms Cooper moved to establish a new Border Security Command in her first days in office, while last week, Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron pledged to work together more closely to dismantle migrant smuggling routes. Labour also scrapped the Conservative government’s “small boats” scheme – designed to send those who arrive in the UK on the vessels to Rwanda – within days of coming to office. Ministers denounced the policy as a “gimmick” that had failed in its central aim – to deter the journeys. But former home secretary James Cleverly called for the Rwanda plan to be reinstated in the wake of the deaths. “This is tragic and it cannot continue,” he tweeted. “It is not enough to talk about smashing the gangs when the real-life consequences are so serious. Labour must re-establish the deterrent that the NCA said we need to stop vulnerable people being exploited and secure our border.” Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said there had been a “shockingly high” number of deaths in the Channel this year and the “devastating trend shows the urgent need for a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach to reduce dangerous crossings”. “Enforcement alone is not the solution,” he added, calling on ministers to open up more safe and legal routes for asylum seekers. The British Red Cross said: “Nobody risks their life travelling across the Channel in a small boat unless they feel they have no other choice.” Steve Smith, CEO of refugee charity Care4Calais, said: “One life lost in the Channel is too much, but this year these tragedies have occurred with much more frequency and that is a deeply worrying trend that needs to be stopped.” He added: “Every political leader, on both sides of our Channel, needs to be asked how many lives will be lost before they end these avoidable tragedies. Their continued obsession, and investment, in security measures is not reducing crossings, it is simply pushing people to take ever-increasing risks to do so.” Nadine Tunasi, of the charity Freedom From Torture, said: “I know from the survivors I work with that no one gets into an overcrowded and unseaworthy dingy to cross one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes without a desperate need to find safety. “Too much time has been wasted on gimmicks and hateful politics, while conflict continues to push people to take dangerous routes to sanctuary.” French interior minister Gerald Darmanin went to Boulogne-sur-Mer to meet rescuers at the scene. “We absolutely must – and this is a very important point – re-establish special relations with our British friends,” he said, calling for harmonised immigration legislation between Britain and France. govt and politics"},{"score":0.783765,"label":"/travel/transports/sea travel"},{"score":0.764319,"label":"/law govt and politics/immigration"},{"score":0.656477,"label":"/law This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Three proposed recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) salmon farms in France are encountering significant resistance from local communities and environmental groups The farms, proposed by Smart Salmon in Plouisy, Pure Salmon in Verdon-sur-Mer, and Local Ocean in Boulogne-sur-Mer aim to raise Atlantic salmon in land-based RAS facilities but have sparked concerns over potential animal welfare issues and environmental impacts meeting with opposition from local citizens' groups and the animal welfare organisation Welfarm which launched a campaign in April to halt the development of what it describes as "hyper-intensive" farming operations Welfarm which is marking its 30th anniversary this year has expressed serious concerns about the welfare of fish raised in RAS environments The organisation cites issues such as high stocking densities which can lead to overcrowding and stress among fish and the potential for mass mortality events due to system failures These concerns were highlighted by a 2021 incident at an RAS farm in Florida where 500,000 salmon died following a filtration system malfunction Welfarm points to the challenges of maintaining water quality in RAS facilities The group argues that the technical difficulties associated with managing such systems can lead to an increased risk of disease and other health complications for the salmon Beyond the immediate welfare concerns, Welfarm and the ocean protection NGO Seastemik also raise broader environmental and ethical issues related to the feeding of farmed salmon. As carnivorous fish, salmon require significant quantities of fish meal and fish oil (FMFO), which are derived from wild-caught fish. This reliance on reduction fisheries has been criticised for its impact on marine ecosystems and its contribution to overfishing. In response to these concerns, Welfarm and Seastemik are calling for a moratorium on the development of new RAS farms for fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods intended for human consumption. They argue that such a ban would promote better animal welfare standards and help align French aquaculture with sustainable development and climate goals. To support their campaign, the organisations have published a detailed report and launched a petition, which has garnered over 58,000 signatures to date. They continue to advocate for legislative action to prevent the establishment of these RAS farms in France. Ten of those who died were female, including a pregnant woman, and six were minors, officials say with many receiving treatment in Boulogne-sur-Mer It is the deadliest disaster this year in the Channel which is the world's busiest shipping lane Downing Street said the news was "truly horrific" and it was determined to clamp down on people smuggling gangs who are "taking even more dangerous risks" More than 20,000 people have made the crossing from France to the UK so far this year We're closing our live coverage shortly, but we've got a story with everything we know here. The latest from the French authorities is that at least 12 people are dead after a small boat carrying migrants capsized in the English Channel this morning Rescue boats and helicopters were scrambled as part of a huge operation with people taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer for medical care Local officials say the 12 who died were "primarily of Eritrean origin" although their nationalities haven't been confirmed The 12 also included six minors and 10 were female said French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin who visited the scene on Tuesday afternoon Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLatest pictures from Boulogne-sur-Merpublished at 20:39 British Summer Time 3 September 202420:39 BST 3 September 2024Photos have been continuing to come in from the port city of Boulogne-sur-Mer where a rescue operation has been taking place all afternoon First responders lined up to meet French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin who visited the scene to express his condolences confirming that most of those killed after the small boat capsized were women authorities and members of media gathered in the port Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingMigrants seen arriving in Dover today - after more than 350 crossed yesterdaypublished at 20:20 British Summer Time 3 September 202420:20 BST 3 September 2024Image source A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover onboard an RNLI lifeboat When weather conditions are relatively calm hundreds of migrants attempt to cross the Channel each day 351 people in six boats were brought to Dover after reaching UK waters According to Home Office figures,, external no crossings were recorded on the two days before that - but on 30 August more than 400 migrants crossed in nine boats while on 29 August some 211 people arrived The English Channel is one of the most dangerous and busiest shipping lanes in the world Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingMore safe routes urgently needed refugee charities saypublished at 20:00 British Summer Time 3 September 202420:00 BST 3 September 2024We've got some reaction now from charities that provide support for refugees says: "One life lost in the Channel is too much but this year these tragedies have occurred with much more frequency and that is a deeply worrying trend that needs to be stopped." He says these have been "avoidable tragedies" and criticises an "obsession" with improving security measures calling instead for safe routes to be made available "It’s time politicians were held accountable for their choice to dehumanise people seeking sanctuary from horrors back home," he adds The British Red Cross's UK director for refugee support says: “Nobody risks their life travelling across the Channel in a small boat unless they feel they have no other choice." Fraser says more safe routes are "urgently needed" Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWhat we know so farpublished at 19:43 British Summer Time 3 September 202419:43 BST 3 September 2024Image source French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin speaking to the media in Boulogne-sur-Mer Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingTwo of those rescued in critical condition says ministerpublished at 19:20 British Summer Time 3 September 202419:20 BST 3 September 2024Andrew HardingReporting from Boulogne-sur-Mer More details are coming in now from French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin He says 51 people were rescued from the boat including two who are in a critical condition and fewer than eight people had life jackets on Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingDeaths include six minors and 10 females prosecutor sayspublished at 19:06 British Summer Time 3 September 202419:06 BST 3 September 2024BreakingAndrew HardingReporting from Boulogne-sur-Mer We can bring you more detail now from Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor he confirmed at least 12 people died - including six minors and 10 females He added that those killed were "primarily of Eritrean origin" but that officials "do not have consolidated details that would allow us to specify the exact nationalities" Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPregnant woman among those who died says officialpublished at 18:40 British Summer Time 3 September 202418:40 BST 3 September 2024BreakingAndrew HardingReporting from Boulogne-sur-Mer A pregnant woman was among the 12 people who died after a boat carrying migrants capsized in the English Channel French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed that those killed in the incident included "about 10 women We'll bring you more detail as we get it The UK's border security and asylum minister says there's a "worrying trend" that boats are being filled with more people than in the past The quality of boats is also "deteriorating" meaning "these crossings are getting more and more dangerous as time goes on" In response to charities calling on the government to open more safe and legal routes for asylum she says: “There are safe and legal routes into this country" - but there are more people who want to come than safe routes Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPart of rubber dinghy broke uppublished at 18:12 British Summer Time 3 September 202418:12 BST 3 September 2024Hugh SchofieldParis correspondent Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingTracking the rescue operationpublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 3 September 202417:48 BST 3 September 2024By Joshua Cheetham Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingMany on board were women from Horn of Africa says French ministerpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 3 September 202417:30 BST 3 September 2024More now from the French interior minister He says a migration treaty is needed between the UK and the EU adding: "We really do need to work together to stop these things happening." Darmanin says that most of the people who died were women Many on board came from the Horn of Africa region In February, under the previous government, the UK signed a new deal with the EU's border agency to work more closely together and share information to stop small boats crossing Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingAbout 70 people were crammed onto seven metre boat says French interior ministerpublished at 17:26 British Summer Time 3 September 202417:26 BST 3 September 2024Image source Gérald Darmanin visited Boulogne-sur-Mer within hours of the incident happening We've just been hearing from French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin who is speaking to reporters in Boulogne-sur-Mer – his words have been translated He says 70 people were crammed onto a small boat measuring less than seven metres - and that overloaded boats can go down "very very quickly" and that's why so many people die in incidents such as these He says the UK's payments to the French government to prevent these incidents covered only "a third of what we are spending" and that they have to "re-establish" relations with the UK and its government Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingNo 10: This is a tragic reminder of the callous criminal gangspublished at 17:17 British Summer Time 3 September 202417:17 BST 3 September 2024Harry FarleyPolitical correspondent Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingUK must open more safe routes for asylum seekers says refugee charitypublished at 17:12 British Summer Time 3 September 202417:12 BST 3 September 2024The head of the Refugee Council says it is "heartbroken" by the latest deaths - and calls on the UK government to open more safe routes for asylum seekers to come to the UK The UK has a number of "safe and legal" ways to claim asylum in the UK - but many are restricted to people from specific countries or only accept limited numbers "In addition to taking action against the criminal gangs themselves the government must develop a plan to improve and expand safe routes for those seeking safety," the charity's CEO Enver Solomon says "People risk their lives out of desperation we must create effective and humane pathways for those seeking refuge to reduce the need for dangerous crossings and prevent further tragedies." The number of people who crossed in 2022 - 45,755 - was the highest since figures were first collected in 2018 Afghans were the top nationality crossing the Channel making up just under a fifth of all small boat arrivals About 83% of small boat arrivals in the 12 months to June 2024 were male and - where age was recorded - more than 40% were between 25 and 39 years old Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLocal mayor praises emergency services after 'real tragedy'published at 16:39 British Summer Time 3 September 202416:39 BST 3 September 2024Today's events were a "real tragedy" near where the rescue operation is taking place calling the death toll "catastrophic" "I want to salute the commitment and action of the rescuers and emergency forces because the catastrophe could have been even more tragic," he adds Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWhere the boat capsizedpublished at 16:30 British Summer Time 3 September 202416:30 BST 3 September 2024The small boat was reported in distress off the coast of Cap Gris-Nez in the Pas-de-Calais department of north-west France Survivors have been taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingHorrifying and tragic incident says UK home secretarypublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 3 September 202416:14 BST 3 September 2024BreakingHome Secretary Yvette Cooper says today's Channel disaster is a "horrifying and deeply tragic incident" Cooper says she is being kept updated on the situation and pays tribute to the French rescue teams "who undoubtedly saved many lives "The gangs behind this appalling and callous trade in human lives have been cramming more and more people onto increasingly unseaworthy dinghies and sending them out into the Channel even in very poor weather "They do not care about anything but the profits they make and that is why - as well as mourning the awful loss of life - the work to dismantle these dangerous and criminal smuggler gangs and to strengthen border security is so vital and must proceed apace," she adds Yvette Cooper seen leaving Downing Street after a Cabinet meeting earlier today Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingUK coastguard not involved in rescue operationpublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 3 September 202415:47 BST 3 September 2024The UK Coastguard says it has not been involved in the major operation off the coast of France today “HM Coastguard received a report of a small boat in difficulty in the English Channel at about 6.50am on 3 September," a Maritime Coastguard Agency spokesperson says SalmonLand-based salmon company planning to break ground on Boulogne-sur-Mer farm this yearThe project's owners plan to produce salmon at the French site under the 'Made in Boulogne' label despite opposition from locals and environmentalists. Overnight a boat capsized and migrants fell into the sea off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France Four people have died while trying to cross the English Channel to the UK from France in a boat Overnight a boat capsized off the northern French coast near Boulogne-sur-Mer where several people were reported as being in the water at around 4.30am on Friday morning Four people found unconscious could not be saved by parademics and a further 63 were rescued and returned to Boulogne to be attended to by emergency services. Posting on X, home secretary Yvette Cooper said the loss of life was “truly awful” and that criminal gangs were making “vast profit from putting lives at risk”. Refugee charities said the “deeply upsetting” deaths in the Channel were avoidable and urged the Labour government to open safe routes for migrants to stop the dangerous crossings. An HM Coastguard spokesman said assistance was offered to the French coastguard on Friday, adding: “An RNLI lifeboat from Dover and Border Force vessel were initially sent to provide support, but were not required to attend the scene.” The deaths come after more than 14,000 migrants have arrived in the UK so far this year after crossing the Channel. Home Office figures show 419 people made the journey in six boats on Tuesday, suggesting an average of around 70 people per boat and taking the provisional total for 2024 to date to 14,058. This is 10 per cent higher than the number recorded this time last year (12,772) and up 6 per cent on the same period in 2022 (13,318). Last year, 29,437 migrants arrived in the UK after making the journey, down 36% on a record 45,774 in 2022. The latest crossings on Tuesday meant 484 migrants arrivals have been recorded over two days of activity in the Channel since Sir Keir Starmer became prime minister in the wake of Labour’s election victory last week. Earlier this week Sir Keir warned that the number of migrants crossing the Channel “cant be changed overnight” and said the situation could get worse before it gets better. Asked by reporters if his vow to “smash the gangs” means stopping the boats and if the situation could get worse before it gets better, he said: “I have always said the previous government’s Rwanda policy was a gimmick, it wouldn’t be a deterrent. “They argued, if I recall that even the passing of the legislation would be a deterrent. It clearly hasn’t worked, wasn’t going to work – we’ve had record numbers coming over this year. “That unfortunately is what we’ve inherited – we can’t change that overnight.” Pressed again on whether the situation will deteriorate before it improves, he added: “It can’t be changed overnight. What we can do is set up our first steps straight away. “The Border Security Command… will lead on smashing the gangs. “I do not accept these are the only gangs that can’t be brought down. I’m determined that our Border Security Command working with others will do so. That’s why it’s got such a rich mix of security and intelligence, alongside prosecutors, alongside law enforcement. “And we will get on with the recruitment and setting up that Command at speed.” Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais said it was “deeply upsetting” that more lives had been lost in the English Channel. He added: “Every life lost in the Channel is avoidable, and politicians have the power to end these tragedies. Channel crossings are fuelled by a lack of safe routes to claim asylum in the UK, and as a refugee charity that operates in both northern France and the UK we know the only way to stop crossings and save lives is to open safe routes.” Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, said: “This devastating loss of life in the Channel highlights the scale of the challenge facing the new Government. Preventing more deaths which are now happening too often is a critical and urgent task. “We need to bring an end to men, women and children who have fled war and oppression in countries such as Afghanistan, Syria and Iran being driven into the arms of the smuggling gangs by opening safe routes so refugees wanting to be with their families are not forced to take deadly risks. “We also need to put in place cooperation agreements with our European allies to provide safe passage from France and trial the use of refugee visas. At the same time there is much more the UK can do to to address conflict and oppression in refugee producing countries.” Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies {"adUnitPath":"71347885/_main_independent/gallery","autoGallery":true,"disableAds":false,"gallery":[{"data":{"title":"Migrant Channel crossing incidents","description":"A Border Force boat in the English Channel","caption":"A Border Force boat in the English Channel (Gareth Fuller/PA) A Border Force boat in the English Channel (Gareth Fuller/PA) govt and politics"},{"score":0.743259,"label":"/society/crime/property crime/smuggling"},{"score":0.736516,"label":"/society/crime/personal offense"},{"score":0.713684,"label":"/law govt and politics/immigration"},{"score":0.710723,"label":"/society/crime/personal offense/assault"},{"score":0.6569,"label":"/business and industrial/business operations"},{"score":0.651815,"label":"/law but it’s when you’re away from the bright lights that you really get the flavour of a country And nowhere is it easier to go exploring than in France Fill the car with your nearest and dearest drive it on to Eurotunnel Le Shuttle and in just 35 minutes you’ll be driving off into the French countryside The Pas-de-Calais region is missed by most tourists who zip on past on their way to Paris Base yourself in the seaside town of Le Touquet golden fields and farms selling fresh produce is scenic enough to warrant plenty of stops and walk the cobbled streets and 13th-century ramparts and then detour into the nearby La Forêt d’Ecault On your return journey, drive the coast road and stop at Audresselles, where Chez Mimi (chezmimi62.fr; mains around £15 book in advance) serves fresh crab and langoustine Get a last blast of sea air at Wissant before heading home Le Touquet’s Art Deco-style promenade now has a more weathered charm Take it all in with a stroll along the seafront past the brightly painted beach huts and the iconic 1930s lido You’ll still find the golf courses and equestrian centres that once kept the aristocracy entertained but you might prefer to try your hand at sand yachting (like sailing but on dry land) or sand castle sculpting – time your visit with the Festival de Sculpture de Sable (sculpturesdesable.fr Jul-Sep) where fairytale castles are carved into the beach You could opt for a Michelin-starred meal at Le Pavillon restaurant in Hotel Barriere Le Westminster, or you could try La Dune aux Loups (laduneauxloups.com; set menus from £20) beamed restaurant serves super-soft steaks and slabs of fish cooked over a wood-fired grill Haec Otia (demeure-hote-haecotia.fr; doubles from £172) is an elegant pile with tastefully decorated rooms, a first-class restaurant and a quiet pool and hammam. Alternatively, Le Belvedere (belvederefrance.com; doubles from £59) is set on the edge of town and has pretty ensuite rooms and woodland views For more details, call 0870 850 9548 or visit eurotunnel.com Hauts-de-France produces some of the country’s most delectable dairy items and that includes more than 200 different types of cheese a soft cow’s milk cheese with a pungent mushroomy odour; mimolette a semi-hard cheese with a fruity aroma; or brine-washed chaud biloute which is delicious served warm and gooey from the oven Biosphere reserve: journey through tree-lined wetlands to see market gardensThe French may have a reputation for downgrading vegetables but not so in its agricultural heartland where there’s an abundance of leeks cauliflower and “pearl of the north” endives All figure in the region’s gastronomy and there are even guild-style brotherhoods for individual vegetables grown in the peaty Audomarois marshlands Board a flat-bottomed bacôve barge from Saint-Omer’s La Maison du Marais visitor centre through tree-lined wetlands where you can admire these extraordinary market gardens The marshes are also a Unesco-listed biosphere reserve supporting hundreds of bird species including storks and kingfishers fr.gaultmillau.com) serves delicate brioche-based croque monsieurs daily dishes such as local endive baked with ham and cheese a cheese-heavy hot sandwich pepped up with beer For finer dining, try La Grenouillere, Gauthier’s two-Michelin-starred farmhouse restaurant and hotel (three courses from €65). If you stay in one of the inn’s eight exquisite hunting huts, you can enjoy signature dishes like blinis stuffed with local tourteau crab (lagrenouillere.fr). Crème de la crème: Chez Meert Photograph: Xavier RenouxHauts-de-France is famous for a confection so enduringly popular there’s even a Brotherhood of Whipping Knights in its honour sugar and vanilla) is named after the famous château Head for its Atelier de la Chantilly (atelierdelachantilly.fr) and have a go at whipping up your own Over in Lille, seek out the stuccoed tearooms, chandeliers and antique wooden inlay counters at Chez Méert (meert.fr) a bejewelled patisserie store that originally opened in 1839 The speciality here is a wafer-thin gaufre (waffle) Fans included Jackie Kennedy and Winston Churchill Local chocolatiers Beussent Lachelle, who grow their own beans in Ecuador, have shops throughout the region. You can also visit their factory near Le Touquet-Paris-Plage (choco-france.com). Over half of France’s breweries are based in Hauts-de-France offering a hugely varied selection of 200-plus blond Well-established breweries include Brasserie Castelain Brasserie Saint-Germain and Brasserie Goudale but microbreweries are also on the rise: look out for quirky beers produced by Lille-based Singe Savant and Les Célestins Foodie heaven: Saint Omer marketWitness the region’s gastronomic gems at its fabulous weekly food markets replete with marshland vegetables and fruit spreads from cobbled Place du Maréchal Foch to surrounding streets Lille’s Marche de Wazemmes is one of the country’s biggest the Saturday morning market in Place Parmentier sells fresh vegetables fruit and flowers brought by boat from the floating gardens There are also stalls piled high with fresh seafood from the Baie de Somme (hautsdefrancetourism.com). Bed down: the Mercure in Saint Omer Photograph: Laurent Mayeux/AbacapressFor easy access to the area stay at Château de Montreuil in Montreuil- sur-Mer This handsome 1930s cream-toned and green-shuttered country-house hotel has great views over the town’s ramparts Doubles, room only, from €140 (chateaudemontreuil.com) Grand Hotel Bellevue has a pitch-perfect location overlooking the handsome Flemish buildings of Grand Place – the city’s main square Rooms feature period Flemish décor mixed with bold contemporary colour notes Some of the subheadings were changed on 5 June 2023 and 3 July 2024 to correct the French grammar This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media Too many of us bypass the closest part of France to the UK – those who linger enjoy soaring chalk cliffs superb seafood and verdant marshes ideal for exploring by boat rivulets of water swirl and eddy through the sand the white cliffs of Cap Blanc-Nez loom behind me This jagged headland marks the start of the Côte d’Opale which runs south-west from Calais for about 75 miles While most travellers arriving in Calais or Boulogne head straight for Paris and beyond I’m here to explore this affordable and often bypassed corner of France and 30 miles inland are the fascinating and attractive vegetable gardens of the Audomarois: immense unspoilt wetlands outside the medieval town of Saint-Omer The Cap Blanc-Nez juts out from sheer chalk cliffs that run to a second wild promontory Hiking or biking the 10 miles separating the two capes can take a day: the route runs across deserted dunes and beaches that feel endless family-run Hôtel l’Escale is a good base for exploring the coast and sampling top-notch local cuisine Third-generation chef Vincent Brignoli creates a €26 dinner menu using local seasonal products: it might include pork terrine with endives and juniper an intense homemade soup of chunky cod in creamy shrimp sauce pungent maroilles cheese from a nearby artisan dairy and to-die-for chocolate mousse It’s a concrete second world war bunker converted into a four-bedroom B&B One mile down the road is Ambleteuse, where the beach promenade is marked by an impregnable-looking fort jutting into the sea. The Unesco-listed fortification was built in the 17th century by renowned military architect the Marquis de Vauban to protect the port I follow the steady stream of hikers across the beach past families foraging for shellfish among the rocks and into sand dunes that go up to the edge of the Slack river estuary by which time the rising tide has erased the beach and huge waves crash across the boardwalk An hour’s drive inland is Saint-Omer, a trading centre for textiles in the middle ages, today a bustling town with a Gothic cathedral, ruined medieval abbey and wonderful flower gardens along the city ramparts. Day trippers head for La Maison du Marais an eco-centre dedicated to the flora and fauna of the Unesco-listed Audomarois marshes a one-hour boat trip (adult €11) gives a good educational introduction though it takes longer to get a full impression of these immense wetlands featured trips and local tips for your next break as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays Rémy actually lives out on the wetlands and comes from a family who farmed vegetable here for centuries “I grew up on the traditional flat-bottomed bacôve boats that navigate the waterways of our marshes and my dream was to preserve this boatbuilding patrimony,” he says “But we never had enough boat orders to survive financially So 10 years ago we changed direction and decided to use tourism to preserve our heritage passing on our knowledge of the wetlands while still building boats.” This friendly green cooperative now includes a team guiding tourists and running an outdoor restaurant and bar, Les Piquinettes while part of their land is cultivated by an organic farmer This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. ProcessingLabeyrie looking to sell Boulogne-sur-Mer sushi plant; Sofipeche emerges as interested buyerThe group hopes to sell the plant by the end of the year Union Sportive Boulogne website Stade de la Liberation website Many have passed through Boulogne in the north of France; how many can say that they’ve been to Boulogne The town was known as the ‘gateway to the UK’ or the reverse for thousands of Brits arriving by ferry from the south coast of England At best it was seen as a handy arrival port in which to leave again for the more romantic locations of Normandy a two-year dream to invade the UK which never came to fruition These days a two-day visit is probably more realistic Book your football tickets online and the town of Boulogne-sur-Mer its football team ‘Union Sportive Boulogne’ and the wonderful Stade de la Liberation will not disappoint Friday night football is the norm in the third tier of French football which provides numerous options for a long weekend on the Côte d’Opale and the possibility of groundhopping somewhere else on Saturday Boulogne has a population of less than 50k and is known as a fishing port with a belfry that dates back to the 12th Century Their main football team ‘US Boulogne’ came into being at the end of the 19th century wearing their famous black and red from the beginning They settled into their current stadium in 1952 The French are renowned for their culinary prowess; that rarely extends to their football stadia Unless you are a corporate ‘customer’ (their food looked good) you may well choose to eat elsewhere based in a marquee behind the Tribune d’Honneur Buy 10 ‘tokens’ for 10 Euros from the reception area and use them accordingly ensuring you keep the branded beer receptacle as a nice keepsake a similar offering is available in the stand opposite known as the tribune Frank Ribery (Yep that Frank Ribery he was born in Boulogne and played at USBFC for two years in his younger days) The final option for sustenance inside the stadium is a large burger van behind the goal where you enter the stadium which provides the usual hot food options with generous portions two café bars next to each other provide good ‘liquid refreshment’ options A swift half of Affligem at 6% in the Café PMU Les Marronniers is recommended and watch the crowds arrive as the sun goes down As that same sun goes to work in a different hemisphere the imposing and marvelous stadium floodlights come alive and beckon you in Just over 3000 were in attendance against a team from the far south of France meaning little or no away fans for the match of this review The stadium has seating on three sides only and without the modern ‘bowl shape’ the atmosphere can easily escape When you walk in through the main entrance it’s strange to be able to see the goalposts with just an athletics track and a large fence between you and the goalkeeper The great thing about this stadium though is that it isn’t a modern bowl shape stadium we have three distinct main stands in a horse-shoe shape each with added enclosures at peculiar angles that give a nod to the eclectic The huge bank of seats behind the goal at the far end remains out of use and looks a little tired A bit like the away end at Craven Cottage may look in twenty years Most of the crowd will be in the two main stands that run along the touchlines Quite how 15k could fit in is not entirely clear but with average crowds of fewer than 3k it’s not something USBFC has to worry about for now The stadium can be found just outside the ancient fortified town adjacent to the war monument and up a very steep hill from the town centre and harbour the town is easy to get around on foot and it feels safe to do so a stroll through the Ville Haute is a good way to start The city walls are still impressively intact and inside you’ll find some exquisite architecture The Belfry is a UNESCO World Heritage site Chateuex Boulogne (1231) and most impressively La Basilique Notre-Dame (1866) are all within a few minutes walk which becomes your landmark when you think you are lost and looks even more impressive when it’s lit up at night the basilica is the ‘Vole Hole,’ a tiny ‘cellar-themed’ bar that is worth frequenting you know you are in the expensive part of town As you leave the city walls you are faced with the huge and sobering war memorial paying tribute to thousands who lost their lives in the two world wars Hotel and Air B& B options are very reasonable The Ibis Budget Hotel is situated nearer to the harbour and is more than adequate The Ibis Central is a little more expensive but just 500 yards from the stadium The best restaurants are found in the old town there’s a trusty Indian restaurant called ‘Lal Qilla’ minutes from the stadium Saturday morning and it’s time to explore Ville Basse completely rebuilt after the RAF sought to retain the advantages gained on D-Day The grittier and even more defining landmarks however are the huge street art installations in and around the main shopping area a huge female face on the side of a block of flats is imperious Elsewhere you will find the artwork high up on the sides of shop buildings and telecommunication cabinets on the side of the road do not escape and Marie Lou Peeren were invited to Boulogne to bring some sparkle and frankly uninspiring shopping area into an uplifting and ‘Musee 39-45’ (an acclaimed war museum) all in the vicinity you begin to see why Napoleon stayed so long It’s a good time to be a fan of USBFC and fans are positive about the club’s future which hasn’t always been the case Top of the ‘National 3’ and some exciting players displaying their talents Fans in the main stand are knowledgeable and warm applause is often the order of the day The Franc Ribery stand opposite provides the more lively support but this is no cauldron of noise Some ultras with flags try to raise the atmosphere but a nervy ending means it is always tentative rather than raucous Watching a game here ‘under lights’ adds to the atmosphere of course and as it’s a Friday night many could look forward to a couple of days off A visit to US Boulogne is far simpler than you may imagine you can be on the M25 at 1 pm and be sat in the bar opposite the Stade de la Liberation by 5 pm easily (even with the clock going forward one hour!) Eurotunnel prices for overnight trips are as little as £25 for a single whether you have 1 or 5 people in the car with you it’s just a 20-mile drive down the A16 and the views are decent too take the coast road which takes a little longer but affords fantastic sea views and even a sight of those ‘white cliffs of Dover.’ The bus station is at the bottom end of town and the train station is just 10 minutes from the ground the traveler’s iconic and air-conditioned friend Highly recommended; especially if you can arrange a second stadium visit maybe at Calais A trip from the south coast of England for example could cost you £50 in fuel The great thing is that if there’re two of you the cost is halved The match ticket cost 10 Euros (easily purchased and downloaded from the club website) a scarf is just 5 Euros and the programme is free The huge scoreboard is a classic ‘European style,’ free-standing affair that is worth a photograph on its own The standing areas at the back of the Frank Ribery Tribune are also a bonus for those who like to watch their football in a more portrait-than-landscape fashion The Stade de la Liberation has real character and is located in a town that has plenty to explore The tremendous street art provides a contemporary feel in what could otherwise be seen as a town beginning to feel sorry for itself tickets purchased simply online and home games on a Friday night are also reasons to visit With the football team in form and the ancient architecture to explore groundhopping in Boulogne-Sur-Mer should be on your bucket list Stadiumjourney.com Ancestral artifacts collected in the Kodiak Archipelago nearly 150 years ago have arrived back home Listen now A French museum, Musee Boulogne-Sur-Mer, will loan the items to the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository in Kodiak where they will remain for five years. A welcoming ceremony for the objects was held at the Kodiak museum on July 9. In 1871 and 1872, then-19-year-old French anthropologist Alphonse Pinart, a linguist who visited Kodiak collected the objects. Musee Boulogne-Sur-Mer director Elikya Kandot works for the museum that has been caring for the items all these years. Kandot escorted the crate to Kodiak. She told the crowd the exchange between the museums is a model for how cultural institutions can work together. “The importance of inheriting this heritage is truly very strong here for future generations,” Kandot said in French. “Thank you for providing this example. Thank you for really, for giving it your all, to these pieces that have been protected for years, for centuries, and that will be transmitted to future generations as well.” Kandot’s museum is part of an international movement for partnerships between European collecting institutions and indigenous peoples so that both can learn more about cultural items. They pried open the shipping crate after a ceremony where a traditional Alutiiq oil lamp was lit. The pieces inside are part of the Pinart Collection, which includes Kodiak Alutiiq objects that Europeans collected here in the late 19th century. The collection includes many rare pieces of Alutiiq ceremonial gear, like masks, drums, headdresses and a feast bowl, which provide a rich record of traditional arts, ritual practices, spiritual beliefs and the Alutiiq language. Pinart also documented vocabulary, songs and legends along with the objects. Inside the large crate are several smaller wooden boxes which are removed one-by-one and staged on nearly tables. While the crowd waits for the screws to be taken out of the inner boxes, the Alutiiq Dancers sing a traditional call and response song. A line forms for onlookers to file by the tables where the objects sit. As the packing paper is removed, Alutiiq descendants get their first glimpse of their ancestors’ work. At last the cultural treasures come into view: two carved wooden masks and a women’s beaded headdress set, which includes two bracelets and a dance belt. One elder greets the items in Alutiiq, “Camai!” Alutiiq elder Florence Matfay Pestrikoff, whose family was originally from Ahkiok, admires the headdress beads of white, green and blue. “I’m thankful that these people preserved them for us,” Pestrikoff said. Pestrikoff said she has never had a traditional headdress of her own and hopes to make one like it for herself. Alutiiq Museum intern Dehrich Chya, 22,has been to France to see some of the objects. But he is still awed to have them here. Today, Chya helped light the ceremonial lamp and pry the lid of the crate. He takes a closer look at the ancestral objects. “I’m really particular to the mask. Just because there is so little that is written about them and it was an art that was lost on Kodiak for a long time,” Chya said. One mask is narrow and small with black paint and red ochre paint and little white circles. Chya’s elders have taught him that the white circles were made by dipping a stalk of a plant into paint and using it like a stamp. “I could tell you, I could not sleep last night because I was so excited,” elder Margaret Roberts, Alutiiq Heritage Foundation chair, said. She has worked to reawaken Alutiiq heritage since the 1980s. “This has been a dream that has come true today,” Robertson said. The objects replace two ceremonial masks, also from the Pinart Collection, scheduled to return to France. In September, the new items will be incorporated into displays on Alutiiq spirituality. In addition, the museum plans to assemble a group of beaders to study and recreate the regalia to share as replicas when the historic set returns to France. The charming town of Boulogne-sur-Mer has much to offer, but it’s the spectacular French National Sea Centre that makes it a must-see, writes Barry Coughlan. but it’s the spectacular French National Sea Centre that makes it a must-see en-route from the ferry port to the delights of western France further south but until late last year I hadn’t heard of the Opal Coast France does have a habit of throwing up great destinations to entice a new brood of visitors and having finally found my way there after a circuitous route from Cork to Luton and then by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Calais and onwards a bit it wasn’t much of a shock to find another wonderful piece of French landscape of which Boulogne-sur-Mer and the Opal Coast is part is so close to Britain that it actually shares a nominal border with the English county of Kent halfway through the Channel Tunnel is up in the air rather than underground as the Brexiteers plough their furrow not a time when one would expect to be able to enjoy walks on the beach or venture out in a t-shirt But it was a time of pretty fair weather and the winter sunshine was bright and tantalisingly warm enough to imagine what it might be like in the height of summer Boulogne-sur-Mer is a major fishing port in France the type that sadly appears to be disappearing rapidly in Ireland fishermen still land their catch locally and there is a vibrant fish market on the quayside near where they actually land restauranteurs and locals line up to buy the catch from any one of a number of stalls Performing sea lions are a flagship attraction at Nausicaá.But if Boulogne’s fame is with the fishing industry as well as a really decent beach to attract tourists that has pushed it into becoming a very important part of France’s tourism industry Figures suggest this hugely influential venture attracts over 600,000 visitors per annum The goal is to increase this to over one million in a short few years and the product is so good that there’s no reason why it cannot achieve what the marketing people are hoping for as such; it’s a centre for the discovery of a marine environment a facility that focuses on the relationship between mankind and the sea there are giant fish tanks and some giant fish within coral and all related marine things to allow the public to imagine a life underwater but everything supports the centre’s main goal of raising public awareness and the need for better management of our oceans and resources within and his legacy is that over 16 million people making Nausicaá the most popular tourist attraction north of Paris after the Parc Asterix While Boulogne-Sur-Mer is France’s biggest fishing port and has Europe’s largest seafood processing centre people are flocking to the massive aquarium which is much more than just an exhibition of sea life for the amusement of visitors may well be a flagship attraction on the one hand but Nausicaá is one of the few centres which run educational activities involving the animal’s wellbeing and physical and mental development Much of what happens in the centre is about education Nausicaá participates in many research programmes and activities to include breeding for different aquariums — for African penguins It operates a ‘Mr Goodfish Programme’ to raise public awareness of sustainable seafood consumption and is hugely proactive in educating young people about the need to clean up our seas from pollution but it would absolutely be worth staying in the Opal Coast area longer I spent my nights in a couple of surrounding towns rather than in Boulogne and my early anxiety of being stuck in the middle of nowhere was unfounded given that nightlife is no longer a major priority I stayed two nights in the beautifully appointed small Hotel des Arts in Wimereux a village of less than 7,000 people a few kilometres north of Boulogne Wimereux has become a residential suburb of Boulogne and also attracts Britons and Belgians who come to buy holiday homes or settle permanently Dinner was at the elegantly appointed L’Aloze restaurant overlooking the seafront and it was full on a Monday night in November which was indicative that it lives up to a lofty reputation as one of the best family-run restaurants on the coast I moved on to the larger town of Le Touquet where French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigette have a country residence right in the centre of a busy street Although it has a smaller population than Wimeroux Le Touquet has a more vibrant nightlife with a couple of busy clubs that attracts out-of-towners and it is also home to a casino and attractions which include the Phare Le Touquet red-brick lighthouse with far-reaching views of the sea and countryside as well as a museum that displays modern and contemporary art Golf enthusiasts have many options to enjoy a round that won’t break the bank including those with courses of character and reputation in Hardelot But there is so much more in this area of sun including a huge range of family activities making this a worthy addition to the list of delightful French travel destinations French National Sea Centre Boulevard Sainte Beuve BP 189 62200 Boulogne-sur-Mer FRANCE www.nausicaa.co.uk Entry prices: Full price (over 12 years of age): €25.90 Bars and refreshments: NAUSICAA has three areas to eat: the Beachside Bistro the Tropical Lagoon Village Bar and a self-service restaurant with beach and sea view (from July 2018) transfer to Eurostar from London St Pancras to Calais Fréthun Then travel by train or car to Boulogne-sur-Mer Where to Stay: Many good hotels in Boulogne-sur-Mer but recommended are the Hotel des Arts in Wimereux (from €120 for double room) and the Bristol Hotel in Le Touquet (from €140 for double room) From as little as €1 a week with our digital introductory offer Already a subscriber? Sign in more courts articles Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Calais may have been written on Queen Mary's heart but pre-cheap flight generation of British visitors better restaurants and hills high enough from which to see the White Cliffs of home was born here and Franz Liszt's father died here General José de San Martin spent his last years in the town Dickens often enjoyed holidays in Boulogne where he worked on Bleak House and Hard Times while day-tripping English republicans have regularly filled the town's restaurants on days of royal festivities back home The Channel tunnel may have bypassed Boulogne-sur-Mer - the rest of us should not The page that you are looking for does not exist on this website You may have accidentally mistype the page address Why not try to search for the page you were looking for: Eleanor Goggin takes a trip to Boulogne-sur-Mer in Northern France An artist paints the dome of Notre Dame in Boulogne Sur Mer Compass jellyfish dance and entrance visitors to the Nausicaa aquarium Eleanor at Boulogne-sur-Mer's 13th Century castle I know when I hear them that I'm definitely on my holidays And the seagulls in Boulogne-sur-Mer are among the most vocal I've ever come across They are proud of their city and they have every right to be A major fishing port in the north of France 120 miles from Brussels and just down the road from Calais We based ourselves at the very centrally located Hotel Metropole and went in search of food the charming Jerome is front of house and his wife Angelique is in the kitchen It's a small homely restaurant serving fish straight from the nearby port Marmite de pecheur was a hearty mix of salmon Three of the gates can be entered with a car and one is for pedestrians only Like Le Jardin Ephemere just beside the Town Hall it has been transformed into a feast for the senses The theme in the garden is changed every year and when I was there it was all about superstitions and crossed knives are among some of the items in situ along with an explanation as to why they put the fear of God into some people It would appear that the Romans believed that evil spirits lurked within a mirror and when it was broken they escaped and brought bad luck it was built in three stages spanning the 12th The Town Hall has now been integrated into it The nearby Basilica was sold during the French revolution and eventually demolished and in 1827 a local Jesuit priest called Father Haffreingue decided to rebuild it Knowing absolutely nothing about architecture but having received a sizeable donation from a benefactor he travelled to England to learn about church buildings and in 1829 his vision was realised and the Basilica opened its doors it's a labyrinth of passages and a treasure trove of artefacts and murals The 13th Century castle now houses a museum There are four permanent exhibitions - one of which traces the history of the city Other exhibitions take place throughout the year It's so lovely to wander from sight to sight through the cobbled streets and embrace the sense of history in this beautiful old town But one of the main reasons why people come to Boulogne-sur-Mer is Nausicaa It focuses mainly on the relationship between the sea and man It's an educational and scientific experience as well as an entertaining one it was re-purposed from 1987 and opened to the public in 1991 In 2007 it welcomed its 10-millionth visitor I have never seen so many excited and happy kids' faces in one day in my life Nausicaa is home to 60,000 creatures and you could literally spend days in there It's an homage to the sea as well as an aquarium and it prides itself on its conservation prowess Exhibitions and videos are interspersed with tanks of varying size and interactive ventures that keep kids entertained for hours In a huge tank certain species of sharks swim alongside tropical fish It seems these sharks circle their food a few times to make sure it's safe to go for it I'll have to develop a strategy like that myself to slow my consumption down I love penguins and as I get older I realise I'm actually beginning to walk like one They were among the first creatures we encountered at Nausicaa and I could have stayed there watching them all day There are multitudinous jellyfish here too I could watch them endlessly - like a lava lamp from the Sixties Apparently there are jellyfish conferences throughout the world Lunch at the restaurant there is really good bowls of mussels and other tasty refreshments.. known collectively as Le Grand Site des Deux Caps Beautiful beaches and lush countryside stretch for miles I hadn't been on a bike for more years than I care to remember but God loves a trier so they say Well clearly he doesn't have much time for me because I landed on my petit derriere It was good fun and a great way to see the area Another good way to see the sights is a trip on La Florelle a boat that leaves from the port and takes in the harbour delights Delicious tournedos of salmon with a parsley butter and creamy vegetable risotto followed by peach and almond crumble was not good for the diet there's a huge focus on food and wine in the area We visited Brasserie Artisanale des 2 Caps and tasted some of owner Christophe Noyon's fine beers Now I love my food passionately and the restaurant option here is vast L'Aloze at the Atlantic Hotel in the pretty coastal town of Wimereux A tomato gazpacho to die for and a perfectly cooked entrecote followed by a trilogy of scrumptious desserts the wine and of course Nausicaa all make for a wonderful journey into the true France Eleanor travelled courtesy of Atout France (france.fr) Three nights at the three-star Hotel Metropole in Boulogne-sur-Mer costs €300 for two people * Fly direct from Dublin to Paris Charles de Gaulle in 1hr 45mins from €45.99 then you can either hire a car or take a fast train to Boulogne-sur-Mer Adult ticket: €25.90/ children €19.50/ children under three free Also enjoy Nausicaa for one more day with a €5 second day offer * For more information on Boulogne-sur-Mer and the Opal Coast visit pas-de-calais-tourisme.com/en/visit-pas-de-calais/ This feature originally appeared in The Sunday Independent Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel 2016Eaton looks over fabric art by Alison Bremner included in the upcoming exhibit “From One Culture to Another” in the Boulogne-sur-Mer Museum in France June 25 an exhibit of work by 29 leading Alaska Native artists will open in the Boulogne-sur-Mer Museum in France "D'une culture a l'autre" — "From One Culture to Another" — will mark the first showing of a collection of contemporary Alaska Native art in Europe who played a major role in organizing the event "Individual pieces have been shown before and there have been shows by particular artists but not a whole show of modern work by Alaska Natives as a genre of art," he said even though it implies a temporary display The intent of "From One Culture to Another" is to create a permanent collection of Alaska Native art presented by Alaskans as a gift to the people of France He became interested in the Boulogne museum because it contains Alutiiq objects collected by an adventuring scholar A generation after Pinart's visit to the Kodiak region traditional art forms pretty much died out in the region the Pinart collection is one of the few major repositories of Alutiiq material in the world [Alutiiq 'treasure hunter' finds trove in French museum.] It was the Boulogne museum that loaned 34 Alutiiq masks to Alaska museums for the "Giinaquq" exhibit in 2008 As a way of thanking the people of Boulogne the Koniag Native Corporation gave the museums paddles by Alutiiq artist Jerry Laktonen and Eaton presented them with a mask But then he found that the items were not included in the museum's art collection he was told that in France one does not place art and artifacts in the same exhibit "The French sort of had this idea that Alaska Native culture died on contact," Eaton said He found that odd considering the impact of indigenous art on the surrealists whose creations are counted among France's national treasures a number of Alaska Natives doing work that merged modern and traditional art "You need to have an exhibit of contemporary Alaska art," he said "That was like waving a red flag at a bull to me." The French art bureaucracy has rules and protocols that baffle someone used to the free-for-all of the American art market art has to be deemed suitable for the "national collection," as determined by a panel The panel was duly consulted about the Kodiak pieces and Eaton next asked if the museum would consider showing work by other modern Alaska Native artists he found the French officials were more receptive to the idea He got help from Boulogne's mayor Frederic Cuvillier and deputy mayor Claude Allan Allan made the trip to Alaska with the Pinart masks and saw for himself a number of new art works by Alaska Natives The idea for an all-Alaska show was further championed by the young director of the Boulogne museum the advocates navigated the national arts bureaucracy which when all the right procedures had been followed gave its blessing — with certain conditions Nothing with sea mammal parts would be accepted "They just didn't want to deal with that politically," Eaton said Then there was the test of whether the contributors were "real artists" in the French way of seeing things "They told us there could be no 'emerging artists' in the show," Eaton said with a formal art degree or a lifetime portfolio They had to be represented in three or more museums Their work had to be consistent and recognizable as their style And they had to be certified by a panel of qualified individuals The committee consisted of artist Don Decker recipient of this year's Distinguished Artist award from the Rasmuson Foundation Koniag past president Will Anderson and Ramio They came up with 40 names that fit the criteria and Eaton began the process of contacting them By creating the first contemporary Alaska Native art collection in Europe particularly as part of the same institution that had such an extensive collection of Alaska antiquities the project presented the "first opportunity to gain significant European exposure for modern art and the cultural traditions from which they arise." It was important that the art be seen as gifts from Alaska artists collectors and corporations to the people of France He didn't want to get funding from the government or a foundation in part because of the strings that might be attached who contributed work to the show and assisted with pulling it together "It's amazing the freedom you have when you're not taking anyone else's money," he said One artist was offended that anyone was giving anything to "colonial thieves" without being paid upward of 50 fine pieces by 29 artists came in most of it which would be considered on the high end Eaton thinks glasswork by Preston Singletary could bring around $30,000 in an American gallery The list of names in the show includes Larry Ahvakana and Susie Bevins-Ericsen from Barrow Israel Shotridge and Alison Bremner from Southeast There are also pieces by the late John Hoover and the late Melvin Olanna "It's like a 'Who's Who,' " said Rebecca Lyon one of the artists donating her work to France titled "Ready for the Rapture," was done several years ago "But it's directly related to the collections in Boulogne I patterned it after a mask that Pinart collected here which was easy to do since the original meaning of the mask is lost." "Rapture" takes the shapes of the original mask and tweaks them into a commentary on nuclear war "It had these marks that looked like tears and the most wonderful shapes of objects coming out of the top that mimic missiles," Lyon said "The round elements were perfect spots for the Doomsday Clock and the nuclear symbol and other things I wanted to speak about the French people will understand how I took the mask and turned it into contemporary art something that speaks to the way we are now which is what a contemporary artist ought to be doing." The people of Boulogne are rolling out the red carpet for the event "The city spent 100,000 Euros just to do the exhibit classified as "an exhibit of national interest," will run for six months then be considered for inclusion among France's official "national treasures," like the Mona Lisa one in Boulogne and one in Paris at which participating artists will discuss continuity of culture "Our main theme is: We're not dead," Eaton said "We want this collection to show that Native culture is healthy and living," said Amason One tangible benefit of the collaboration between the Alaska artists and the French museum is an "almost unique exchange program" that sends two masks from the Boulogne trove to the Alutiiq Museum in Kodiak for five years after which they will be exchanged for two other pieces from the Pinart collection Eaton hopes the show will be greeted as a kind of "repatriation in reverse" and that it will give a boost to the marketability of contemporary Alaska Native artists He also hopes more Alaskans will have access to the Pinart antiquities and other Alaska works in museums around Europe some still in boxes and only available to scholars and scientists About half of the contributing artists are expected to make the trip for the grand opening who received a Rasmuson fellowship to help pay for the journey "to go to places where objects of culture are kept is life-changing I'm glad the French are letting people visit their relatives He worked in radio for 20 years before switching to print the largest wind turbine in France has been installed at the entrance to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer (Pas-de-Calais) The company InnoVent installed the new giant wind turbine in the commune of Le Portel and it will replace the four smaller turbines that have been in operation here for 20 years Two cranes were required to assemble the turbine with its 100 tonne generator and three 63 metre long blades InnoVent said that the turbine was “installed on a tripod mast a first in Europe” adding that “ the structure makes it possible to greatly reduce the quantities of steel and concrete necessary for its foundation while increasing production.” has positioned the turbine on the Quai de l’Europe 700 metres away from the other existing wind turbines The electricity produced will be integrated into the Enedis network to supply the activities of the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer The French government will launch a huge call for tenders in 2025 for the installation of offshore wind farms President Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday (November 28) during the Assises de l'économie de la mer in Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) "A dozen wind farms will come into force in 2030-2035," President Macron said The initial aim is to generate 10 GW of power equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 10 million households France has 8 GW of offshore wind farms installed or planned making offshore wind the second largest source of electricity generation after nuclear power The President's announcements on Tuesday are part of the French Energy and Climate Strategy which was put out for public consultation last week - for a period of one month - by the Minister of Energy Transition How France plans to avoid electricity price spikes French solar panel system that doubles as crop shade bought by Total Nuclear reactor approved to continue beyond 40 years, first in France The resort is set to remain open to the public and not only to professionals The following destinations are easy for a short break. Apart from Lille, which is best reached on the Eurostar, the rest are within 75 minutes’ drive of the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais — much quicker and less faff than a ferry, and just as easy for bringing back your goodies. Méert’s signature product is gaufresHAUTS-DE-FRANCE TOURISME/ANNE-SOPHIE FLAMENTThe sophisticated city of Lille is the place to fill up on the finer things in life. In Place Rihour, the Christmas market runs until December An impressive trompe-l-oeil fresco painted in the coastal city of Boulogne-Sur-Mer was recently crowned France’s most beautiful street artwork for 2020 a popular French portal dedicated to urban art hosts a national competition to crown the nation’s most impressive street art the title went to an amazing artwork created by Spanish street artist Gonzalo Borondo but a closer look reveals it to be just an optical illusion Located on this grand staircase on rue Jules-Baudelocque in a traditional district of Boulogne-sur-mer Borondo’s fresco is meant to be an allegory of life the head of the city’s street-art festival “You first see a closed door, and you may think that in life everything is closed. But by going up on each step, you reach stages, like consciousness, or free will. And at the seventh and last level, you understand that life has just started, and that you should never let go,” Amziane said Interestingly Gonzalo Borondo’s street artwork is unfinished the Spanish artist could only work his magic for four days so he is expected back this year to finish the masterpiece If it already looks good enough to win the prestigious Golden Street Art prize I wonder how it’ll look when it’s done Gonzalo Borondo is an accomplished street artist whose works adorn buildings and streets all over the world but this win is definitely a nice feather for his cap for the city and for us,” Amziane said “He is in great demand but the objective is to see him here again very soon.”