Image credits: Larry Smith, marinetraffic.com

The Northern Hemisphere is witnessing the seasonal shift towards winter as autumnal weather chills the air and days draw in. Conditions out on the Mediterranean Sea – which is surrounded by Africa, Asia and Europe and links to the Atlantic Ocean – get rougher during winter months. These changing conditions do not deter migrants from Northern Africa and beyond who choose to risk their lives and make the crossing to Southern Europe on unsuitable craft, in search of a better life for themselves and their loved ones.

In January 2017 the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, announced that 170 lives were believed to be lost as a result of two shipwrecks in the Mediterranean – 117 people died off the coast of Libya, and a further 53 in the waters between Morocco and Spain.  “Already this year 4,507 people have crossed to Europe by sea, despite bitter cold and great danger,” said the statement.

September statement from humanitarian rescue organisation SOS Mediterranee said it was involved in the rescue of 129 people between 18 September and 20 September alone. Separate rescues of 25, 33, 58 and 13 people took place during the autumnal month across the three-day period. Also involved in the rescues were German NGOs Sea-Watch and Resqship and voluntary air observation organisation Pilotes Volontaires.  The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Médecins Sans Frontières also partner with the organisation.

SOS Mediterranee carries out its operations whatever the season, including the winter months, and this year reported that it saved 373 lives in January and 422 in February. Such civil organisations are central to saving lives in the Mediterranean Sea as they scan the region and rush to assist migrant boats whatever the weather or time of year.

SOS Mediterranee’s work takes place onboard the Ocean Viking – a 2,629-dwt supply vessel built in 1986, MarineTraffic data reveals.  

The Norwegian-flagged vessel is 69.3 m long and 15.5 m wide, and from the SOS Mediterranee website appears to have been in service with the organisation since 23 August 2019. 

The organisation says: “With a maximum speed of 14 knots the Ocean Viking is faster than the Aquarius [the organisation’s previous vessel], which will allow us to respond to distress calls faster and prevent loss of life. Equipped with two radars and two infrared cameras, the Ocean Viking has the necessary tools to quickly locate boats in distress day or night.” The vessel has a nautical and technical crew of around nine persons, plus the search and rescue and medical crew.

Medical personnel include doctors and midwives. There is also a care team of three people that act as the link between the crew and rescued people. Care team members look after the survivors on deck and organise their food, activities and coordinate medical visits. Onboard survivors are well care of, are given high energy foods and fresh clothing. The next step is then to find a port where they can disembark and start their new lives.

MarineTraffic data reveals that the Ocean Viking’s activities tend to be focussed on the central Mediterranean, with a significant amount of vessel movements off the Tunisia and Libya coasts – the region where rescue operations are most likely to take place.

Further data reveals where migrants are most likely allowed to disembark. The past year’s ports calls for the Viking Ocean show that it called at Augusta, on the Italian island of Sicily, seven times. Other Italian port calls are Pozzallo, Siracusa, and Napoli, where the vessel called three times, twice and once over the past year to date. The French port of Marseille was also called at four times,

This data correlates with SOS Mediterranee’s online log book which shows where it has been able to disembark survivors. In September, the Augusta received 122 survivors from the vessel, and in August the port of Pozzallo received 549 survivors. In May 236 survivors stepped onto dry land, again in Augusta, and in March 116 people disembarked at the same port and a further 373 in February.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM),146 people died attempting to reach Europe by sea during the first six months of 2021. Harrowing stories from some of the survivors can be viewed on the SOS Mediterranee website. But the work of SOS Mediteranee brings hope. It says on its website: “After 24 hours, we can see some of the survivors’ faces start changing.

When arriving onboard the Ocean Viking, a 15-year-old boy may look like he is 40. With time, providing them with care and attention, treating them with respect and dignity, can bring light back into their eyes.

Since launching its operations in 2015, SOS Mediteranee has rescued 31,700 people.