SOS Méditerranée
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''SOS Méditerranée'' is a European, maritime-humanitarian organization for the rescue of life at sea, currently operating in the
Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on ...
sea in
international waters The terms international waters or transboundary waters apply where any of the following types of bodies of water (or their drainage basins) transcend international boundaries: oceans, large marine ecosystems, enclosed or semi-enclosed region ...
north of
Libya Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Suda ...
. The organization chartered the ''
Aquarius Aquarius may refer to: Astrology * Aquarius (astrology), an astrological sign * Age of Aquarius, a time period in the cycle of astrological ages Astronomy * Aquarius (constellation) * Aquarius in Chinese astronomy Arts and entertainment ...
'' and more recently the ''
Ocean Viking The ''Ocean Viking'' is a humanitarian ship chartered from July 2019 by the SOS Méditerranée association. The vessel On 21 July 2019 SOS Méditerranée announced a new rescue campaign off the Libyan coast, using a cargo ship, the ''Ocean Vikin ...
'' in order to rescue people fleeing by sea from Libya and who risk drowning. The group was founded in June 2015 by German former captain Klaus Vogel and Frenchwoman Sophie Beau after the
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...
navy ended the rescue Operation Mare Nostrum in 2014. Its headquarters are in
Marseille Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Fra ...
(
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
),
Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city ...
(
Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
),
Frankfurt Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , " Frank ford on the Main"), is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located on it ...
(
Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...
),
Geneva Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Situa ...
(
Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
).


European migration

The organization is best known for its actions during the European migrant crisis of rescuing migrants from sinking vessels in international waters north of Libya and providing the survivors with medical care and shelter, before being disembarked in a place of safety mostly in European ports in
Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
and
Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
. Since the start of the rescue operation in 2015, the ''Aquarius'' has saved more than 29,000 lives. They are considered a "taxi service for migrants" by Italian Minister of the Interior, deputy prime minister and leader of the far-right anti-migration party La Lega
Matteo Salvini Matteo Salvini (; born 9 March 1973) is an Italian politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport since 2022. He has been Federal Secretary of Italy's Lega Nord ( Northern League) party ...
and have been denied entry to Italy and Malta. They work in partnership with
Doctors Without Borders Doctor or The Doctor may refer to: Personal titles * Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree * A medical practitioner, including: ** Physician ** Surgeon ** Dentist ** Veterinary physician ** Optometrist *Other roles ** ...
. SOS Méditerranée clashed with Libyan coastguards during 2017 but continues to operate in the Libyan search and rescue region in international waters north of Libya.


Network

SOS Méditerranée works as a European association with teams in
Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...
,
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
,
Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
and
Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
forming a European network, jointly financing and operating the rescue ship Aquarius, which has been in continuous operation since February 2016 in international waters between Italy and Libya. The medical care has been provided by Doctors without Borders since May 2016.


The ''Aquarius''

It is a robust and seaworthy ship that offers wide spaces below deck, making it very suitable for year-round use as a rescue ship in the Mediterranean. Until 2009 the ''Aquarius'' was operated as a fishery protection vessel. * Size: Length 77 m, Width 11.8 m, Draught 5.6 m * Crew: Nautical and Technical Crew of 10 + Search and Rescue and Medical Crew * Rescue capacity: 200 – 550 people * Costs per day: 11.000 € SOS Méditerranée used the ''Aquarius'' from February 2016 to October 2018, after which operations have continued with the ''Ocean Viking''.About Us
''sosmediterranee.com'', accessed 30 April 2021


''Ocean Viking''

On 21 July 2019 SOS Méditerranée announced a new rescue campaign off the Libyan coast, using a cargo ship, the ''
Ocean Viking The ''Ocean Viking'' is a humanitarian ship chartered from July 2019 by the SOS Méditerranée association. The vessel On 21 July 2019 SOS Méditerranée announced a new rescue campaign off the Libyan coast, using a cargo ship, the ''Ocean Vikin ...
''. The approach is supported by the Norwegian authorities; the vessel is registered there. The operation costs €14,000 per day. The 69 m long by 15 m wide vessel was built in 1986 to serve as a support vessel for oil rigs in the North Sea. She is operated by around thirty people (nine crew members, a search and rescue team and medical personnel) and can carry up to 200 survivors. ''Ocean Viking'' is faster and better equipped than the ''Aquarius''. Onboard microphones and cameras will make it possible to record everything that happens on board and around the boat, in order to prove, if necessary, that operations are carried out within a legal framework. The ship, which will respect the ban on disembarking migrants in Italian ports, is banned from refueling in Malta.L’« Ocean-Viking », qui vient en aide aux migrants en Méditerranée, interdit de ravitaillement à Malte
(''tr. "The "Ocean-Viking", which helps migrants in the Mediterranean, banned from refueling in Malta"'') 21 July 2019 ''www.lemonde.fr'', accessed 6 May 2021 As of 2021, SOS Méditerranée continues its life-saving rescue operations using the ''Ocean Viking''.


Funding

SOS MEDITERRANEE is a non-profit association and is financed through private and public donations. Its partner, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), contributes to the monthly costs for the ''Aquarius'' and staffs the medical team on board.


See also

*
Hellenic Rescue Team The Hellenic Rescue Team (HRT; el, Ελληνική Ομάδα Διάσωσης or Elliniki Omada Diasosis) is a Greek non-governmental search and rescue organisation. It is run by volunteers and operating since 1978. Since 1994 it is run as an a ...
* Iuventa *
Mediterranea Saving Humans Mediterranea Saving Humans APS is a "civil society platform" making connections between existing networks and individuals and a "non governmental project". Though it is similar to the many NGOs operating in the Mediterranean it is not actually an ...
* Migrant Offshore Aid Station * No Border network * Proactiva Open Arms * Sea Watch


References


External links


Official website
*https://ilmanifesto.it/porro-sos-mediterranee-in-questa-crisi-sbagliano-sia-roma-che-parigi/ {{European migrant crisis Social welfare charities Sea rescue organizations Humanitarian aid organizations in Europe Foundations based in France