
June 2023 update - Search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean and fundamental rights
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- Introduction
- 1 NGO ships and aircraft involved in SAR operations
- 2 Legal proceedings against civil society actors involved in SAR operations
- 3 International and EU legal framework on SAR at sea
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Annex: Legal proceedings by EU Member States against civil society actors involved in SAR operations in the Mediterranean Sea
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Italy
- Geo Barents, operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) – operational
- Open Arms, operated by ProActiva Open Arms – operational
- Ocean Viking, operated by SOS Mediterranée – operational
- Aita Mari, operated by Salvamento Marítimo Humanitario – operational
- Astral, operated by ProActiva Open Arms – under maintenance
- Louise Michel, operated by M.V. Louise Michel – under maintenance
- Mare Jonio, operated by Mediterranea Saving Humans – under maintenance
- Sea-Eye 4, operated by Sea-Eye – blocked at port
- Aurora, operated by Sea Watch – blocked at port
- Sea-Watch 4, operated by Sea-Watch in collaboration with MSF – not operational
- Sea-Watch 3, operated by Sea-Watch – not operational
- Iuventa, operated by Jugend Rettet – not operational
- Alan Kurdi, operated by Sea-Eye – no longer operational
- Vos Hestia, operated by Save the Children – not operational
- Vos Prudence, operated by Médecins sans frontières (MSF) – not operational
- Moonbird, reconnaissance aircraft operated by Sea Watch with Humanitarian Pilots Initiative – not operational
- Alex Mediterranea, operated by Mediterranea Saving Humans – no longer operational
- Eleonore, operated by Mission Lifeline – not operational
- Aquarius, operated by SOS Mediterranée with MSF – not operational
- Golfo Azzurro, operated by ProActiva Open Arms – not operational
- Spain
- Germany
- The Netherlands
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Malta
- Lifeline, operated by Mission Lifeline – not operational
- Sea-Eye, operated by Sea-Eye – not operational
- Seefuchs, operated by Sea-Eye – not operational
- Sea-Watch 3, operated by Sea-Watch – not operational
- Moonbird, reconnaissance aircraft operated by Sea-Watch with Humanitarian Pilots Initiative – operational
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Italy
- About this publication
1 NGO ships and aircraft involved in SAR operations
After Italy ended its Mare Nostrum rescue programme in the Central Mediterranean in 2014, civil society organisations started deploying SAR vessels and reconnaissance aircraft which rescued a significant number of migrants and asylum seekers in distress at sea.
In August 2014, the organisation Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) deployed the vessel Phoenix. Since then, several civil society organisations have deployed a total of 40 rescue vessels and four reconnaissance aircraft, mainly in the Central Mediterranean. These assets seek to reduce fatalities and bring rescued people to safety in the EU. Since the last FRA update published in June 2022, three new rescue vessels were deployed: Life Support, Mare Go and Sea Punk.
At the end of June 2023, 18 vessels and three aircraft were still deployed, the rest had discontinued operations. Six of the 18 vessels were under maintenance (Mare Jonio, Open Arms Uno, Astral, Rise Above, ResQPeople and Sea Punk).
Civil society actors deploying SAR vessels and aircraft faced numerous legal proceedings hampering their work.
By engaging in SAR operations at sea, civil society organisations play a key role in saving lives and mitigating the hardships that migrants and asylum seekers experience.