Cooperation in the Central Mediterranean. Between adverse weather and coordination, our NADIR crew supports 449 people in distress at sea.

Cooperation in the Central Mediterranean. Between adverse weather and coordination, our NADIR crew supports 449 people in distress at sea. 

The operation began with our departure from Malta at the end of october, after careful preparation and replenishment of provisions. The NADIR headed for Lampedusa, where we first conducted training exercises north of the island – valuable time to train our tender team and practise procedures on board. We practised intensively with the safety equipment to be fully prepared for our three weeks search and observation operation. 

Adverse weather conditions in the Mediterranean 

But first, the weather caught up with us. An approaching storm forced us to anchor in the harbour of Lampedusa. We used this unwanted break to carry out minor maintenance work, including on the main ship and the engine of our tender.  

Once the storm had subsided, we headed straight for the area of operation. On this turn, we discovered 77 people on board a wooden boat. The boat was unseaworthy and the engine was defective. We distributed life jackets and provided initial assistance. Shortly afterwards, the Italian coast guard took the people onto their rescue boat and brought them to Lampedusa. 

SeaBird provides support from air 

But it didn’t stop at one boat. The SeaBird, a civilian reconnaissance aircraft belonging to the NGO Sea-Watch, soon reported a second wooden boat with 68 people on board nearby. Once again, we distributed life jackets from our tender – and once again, the Italian coast guard took over the evacuation shortly thereafter. During the night, we came across a third boat: empty, and already marked – it had, thus, already been evacuated. 

At this point, we returned to Lampedusa to submit a report to the Italian coast guard in order to comply with the extensive requirements of the Italian authorities. 

From there, we set sail again and received new coordinates from SeaBird. Using these coordinates, we found the people on another wooden boat during the night. While we were distributing life jackets, two people jumped into the water in panic. However, our tender team was able to rescue both of them and take them on board. Later, the Italian coast guard also evacuated everybody from this unseaworthy boat. 

Shortly afterwards, we received a message from Alarm Phone – Watch the Med, and we located the 75 people just two hours later. They were on a wooden boat with a high engine room. This type of boat is particularly dangerous. Those accommodated on the lower deck are exposed to toxic petrol fumes and a high risk of suffocation. Last year, our NADIR crew had to rescue ten bodies from a similar boat. 

The cargo ship IVY1 also came to assist after hearing the Mayday Relay on the radio. This is particularly noteworthy, as offers of assistance from commercial freighters in cases of refugee distress are very rare indeed. The IVY1 crew offered us protection from the wind and two-metre-high swells, and informed the relevant authorities. Shortly afterwards, the Italian coastguard arrived and took the people on board their unit. 

We returned to Lampedusa and handed over another report. And once again, we set sail for the operational area between Libya, Tunisia and Italy. 

Unseaworthy boat ahead 

During the voyage, we spotted 56 people on a black and completely overcrowded rubber boat. The boat was no longer seaworthy. In close coordination with the authorities, we took everybody on board the NADIR. Among them were a woman and two children. Some were suffering from severe seasickness, which the NADIR crew treated. On board, there was also a warm meal for the exhausted people and blankets for the cool night. 

The next morning, we reached Lampedusa where all people could disembark safely. This was a moment of relief, but also of reflection: These people had just endured so much – and yet faced an uncertain future. 

Around noon, we set sail again, once more with coordinates provided by SeaBird. Before we arrived, the coast guard had already evacuated the people. 

Night-time search and cooperation with the Louise Michel 

The following evening, SeaBird reported a rubberboat with 75 people in distress near a Tunisian oil terminal. Our search continued into the early morning hours. The people were very exhausted and their boat was in very poor condition: water was entering and the engines were broken. 

We distributed life jackets and evacuated everyone onto the NADIR. At the same time, the civilian rescue ship Louise Michel arrived and supported our rescue operation with their tender. The cooperation went smoothly and, as so often, we were happy and grateful for the great solidarity among the various NGOs present on the central Mediterranean. 

Medically, the situation was tense: Everyone on the boat was soaked and exhausted. One man was so weak that he had to be carried. Two others suffered chemical burns from the mixture of petrol and salt water that had spread throughout the boat. A man with diabetes was also treated by our medics. 

After providing initial medical care to the sick and injured, we set up a shower at the stern of the NADIR. We then prepared a hot meal and held rescue blankets ready for the night – three days at sea leave their mark. 

Port of Safety: Lampedusa again 

We once again took course to Lampedusa as the port of safety assigned by the Italian authorities. On the way there, AlarmPhone gave us another position: a boat with a broken bottom and water ingress. Almost at the same time, we arrived there with the Louise Michel, which then took the people on board. 

An eventful operation 

The ninth NADIR operation was marked by tension, changing emotions and tireless cooperation between civilian actors such as SeaBird, AlarmPhone, Louise Michel, but also merchantshipping and the Italian coast guard. We are grateful that we were able to support 449 people during this operation and wish them all the best, above all a dignified life in safety. Our reliefgoes to all those who made it to Europe without any help via one of the most dangerous escape routes in the world. Our thoughts are with the countless people, women, children and men who lost their lives while fleeing to a safe future. 

Credits: Stefania Olivotto | RESQSHIP