
Search and rescue operations and fundamental rights - June 2024 update
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- Introduction
- 1. International and EU legal framework on SAR at sea
- 2. NGO ships and aircraft involved in SAR operations
- 3. Legal proceedings against civil society actors involved in SAR operations
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Annex: Legal proceedings by EU Member States against civil society actors involved in search and rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean Sea (Update June 2024)
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Italy
- Geo Barents, operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) – operational
- Open Arms, operated by ProActiva Open Arms – under maintenance
- Ocean Viking, operated by SOS Mediterranée – operational
- Aita Mari, operated by Salvamento Marítimo Humanitario – under maintenance
- 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 – operational
- Sea-Watch 5, operated by Sea-Watch – operational
- Seabird 1 & 2, reconnaissance aircraft operated by Sea-Watch – operational
- Sea-Watch 4, operated by Sea-Watch in collaboration with MSF – not operational
- Sea-Watch 3, operated by Sea-Watch – not operational
- Humanity 1, operated by SOS Humanity – 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
After Italy ended its Mare Nostrum rescue programme in the Central Mediterranean in 2014, civil society organisations started deploying SAR vessels and reconnaissance aircraft, rescuing 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 41 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.
At the end of May 2024, 17 vessels and three aircraft were still deployed; the rest had discontinued operations. Eight of the deployed vessels were under maintenance and not currently operational (Aita Mari, Louise Michel, Open Arms, Astral, ResQ People, Imara, Mare Jonio, and Sea Punk).