52 People Rescued at Sea: Two Rescue Operations by the SEA-EYE 5

52 Menschen aus Seenot gerettet: Die SEA-EYE 5 im Einsatz

52 people rescued during two operations — and once again, it has become painfully clear that civil sea rescue remains essential in the Central Mediterranean. Over the past weekend, the crew of the SEA-EYE 5 rescued a total of 52 people from distress at sea and brought them safely ashore. At the same time, another distress case showed how quickly people on the move can be exposed to the risk of being pulled back to Libya.

It is Saturday when a Mayday call in the Libyan Search and Rescue Zone (SAR zone) reaches the SEA-EYE 5. With aerial support from the Albatross operated by SOS MEDITERRANEE, the crew sets out to search for the boat in distress.
They eventually spot an unseaworthy inflatable boat. On board are 20 people, including five women, one of whom is pregnant. They have already spent two days at sea and are exhausted and dehydrated.
Within an hour, the crew manages to bring all 20 people safely aboard the SEA-EYE 5. Medical care begins immediately.

During the operation, two vessels operated by unidentified Libyan actors are spotted nearby from the air. The aerial support provided by the Albatross is therefore particularly important, allowing the dangerous situation to be monitored closely. In the Central Mediterranean, Libyan actors repeatedly carry out violent interceptions and forced returns of people fleeing by sea, while also putting civil rescue vessels at risk through dangerous encounters.

Another distress call — but the boat cannot be reached in time
Shortly after the first rescue, another distress call comes in. The civil rescue hotline Alarm Phone reports a boat in distress, and the SEA-EYE 5 changes course.
But by the time the crew reaches the reported position, the boat is already gone. Unidentified Libyan actors have intercepted the people on board and taken them back to Libya.
A pullback is not a rescue. People returned to Libya face severe violence, abuse and detention in detention centres. Human rights violations in Libya have been extensively documented.

A short time later, another distress call follows. Together with the AMA, operated by the organisation Sailidarity, the crew searches throughout the night for the reported boat. Despite their intensive efforts, they are unable to find it. Eventually, the search has to be called off.

Another rescue: 32 people safely on board
On Sunday, the SEA-EYE 5 is on its way to the assigned port of safety in Vibo Valentia when the crew spots another unseaworthy inflatable boat carrying 32 people.

The rescue begins around midday. Within an hour, all 32 people are safely on board the SEA-EYE 5.
During the night from Monday to Tuesday, all 52 people are finally able to disembark safely in Vibo Valentia.

13 years after Lampedusa
The first rescue operation carried out by the SEA-EYE 5 that weekend took place on the 13th anniversary of the shipwreck off Lampedusa. On 3 October 2013, 366 people lost their lives there.

The fact that civil rescue vessels still have to set out to prevent people from drowning 13 years later shows how little the fundamental situation has changed.

While the SEA-EYE 5 was able to rescue 52 people that weekend, another boat was intercepted and returned to Libya. For the people on board, this meant being sent back to a situation in which they face serious human rights violations.

“Thirteen years after the shipwreck off Lampedusa, civil rescue vessels still have to set out to prevent people from drowning. This weekend, 52 people were brought safely on board. At the same time, the failed rescue operation once again highlights the consequences of Europe’s failure in maritime rescue and its cooperation with the so-called Libyan coastguard: despite their plight, people are being returned to a country where they face serious human rights violations.”

Anna di Bari, Managing Director of Sea-Eye e. V.

Sea-Eye has been cooperating with German Doctors since mid-2021 to provide medical care to people rescued at sea. The current rotation of the SEA-EYE 5 is supported by our alliance partner United4Rescue