Sea-Eye ceases to operate the rescue ship ALAN KURDI

With a heavy heart, Sea-Eye parts with their rescue ship ALAN KURDI. The frequent detentions of the rescue ships forced Sea-Eye to sell the rescue vessel to the Italian sea rescue organization ResQ for 400,000 € for financial reasons. The ship will now be operated under the name ResQ PEOPLE. In the future, Sea-Eye will exclusively operate the SEA-EYE 4.

The detentions of civil sea rescue ships flying the German flag by the Italian authorities are a heavy financial burden for Sea-Eye. The Italian coast guard already detained the ALAN KURDI twice on flimsy grounds. Sea-Eye managed to free the ship both times after lengthy discussions and with the use of legal means. The detention of the rescue ships not only prevents Sea-Eye from doing its work but also costs enormous sums of money for port and legal fees.

For Sea-Eye it was a difficult, but an equally rational decision. Sea-Eye urgently needs the sales proceeds to continue operating the SEA-EYE 4.

“We are grateful that this special ship remains in service of sea rescue. If there are organizations that have two ships and few resources, then you have to start a discussion with friends who have resources and are looking for a ship. We are living the spirit of European cooperation, just like we demand it from the EU states” says Gorden Isler, Chairman of Sea-Eye e. V.

The ALAN KURDI was the first rescue ship to fly the German flag and was used for the first time in December 2018. In total, Sea-Eye sent the ALAN KURDI on twelve rescue missions and thus saved 927 lives. Around 240 crew members total went on missions on this vessel.

Sea-Eye is grateful to all partners and donors who have sent this ship on rescue missions with us for more than two years. Sea-Eye would like to especially express their thanks to the Kurdi family. Abdullah and Tima Kurdi, father and aunt of the drowned Syrian boy Alan Kurdi, named the ship in February 2019. It was not easy for the family to endure all the ghastly hate speech that was posted online. But the ALAN KURDI was an important symbol and an appeal to Europe for two years. Sea-Eye will remain deeply connected to the Kurdi family in the future.