All-weather lifeboat SEA-EYE 5 starts its first Mediterranean mission 

SEA-EYE 5: Gedenkminute

At the start of the mission, the crew held a minute’s silence in memory of the dead and missing in the Mediterranean.

The rescue ship SEA-EYE 5 left the port of Licata in Sicily on 23. October 2024 and set off on its first mission in the central Mediterranean. Before setting sail, the crew held a minute’s silence and laid wreaths at sea to commemorate the more than 30,000 people who have lost their lives on the world’s deadliest migration route since 2014.

“30,000 deaths in the Mediterranean: that’s the result of Europe’s border policies over the last decade. We will continue to fight to save lives on the world’s deadliest migration route: with the SEA-EYE 5, we can now respond even faster to those in need of sea rescue. Together with our partner organisations, we want to do everything we can to ensure that no one has to die at sea,” said Gorden Isler, Chairman of Sea-Eye e.V.

The UNO-Flüchtlingshilfe is supporting the first mission of the SEA-EYE 5 with 50,000 euros. The purchase price, modernisation, and refitting of the ship were financed via a fundraising campaign by United4Rescue.

SEA-EYE 5: Training

“Fast, rescue-tested and flexible in use: the rescue cruiser is our answer to the obstacles that are being placed in the way of civil sea rescue. It’s a shame that civil society has to keep finding new ways to continue saving lives – because after all, sea rescue is a duty. We wish the SEA-EYE 5 and its crew all the best on their first mission!” said Sandra Bils, board member of United4Rescue.

The SEA-EYE 5 was built in 1990 and belongs to the 23.3 metre class, a series of seven all-weather lifeboats belonging to the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS). Under the name NIS RANDERS, she was in service with the DGzRS off the coast of Maasholm in Schleswig-Holstein until 2020. The civilian sea rescue organisation Sea-Eye e.V. bought the ship this year and has been overhauling and technically modernising her in recent months. There is also a sickbay on board: its equipment and operation are made possible by Sea-Eye’s long-standing partner organisation German Doctors.

“Rescuing people from peril at sea and providing them with immediate medical care: With the SEA-EYE 5, we can act together even faster. As long as EU member states fail to fulfill their international legal obligation to rescue those in maritime distress, we will continue to dedicate ourselves to helping people in dire need,” said Dr. Christine Winkelmann, Executive Board Member of German Doctors e.V.