Over the recent weekend, the Greek maritime authorities assembled or prepared approximately 20 commercial vessels to aid in the rescue of over 200 individuals caught up in a resurgence of Europe’s migrant emergency. Separate incidents occurred in close temporal proximity, bringing a sense of urgency to the unfolding situation. Several thousands of human lives, each with their deep, individual narratives were instantly shoved into vessels not designed for human transport, but rather for the movement of goods across the high seas.
Among the vessels involved in the operation was the British Achiever, a shipping vessel commissioned in 2018 with a cargo capacity of 173,400 cbm. The ship came across a boat in distress holding 89 people, 28 nautical miles (equivalent to 32 kilometers) to the southern side of the islet of Gavdos. Assisted by BP Shipping, the British Achiever enabled the safe relocation of these migrants northwards to Crete.
Simultaneously, a nail-biting save unfolded approximately 12 nautical miles southwest of Gavdos. The vessel involved was the Mito, a 1,118-teu container ship run by the global Ocean Network Express. Wrestling with unfavourable weather, the crew members of the Mito were able to rescue 33 individuals from a wooden boat and recovered one deceased individual from the sea.
In a distressing turn of events, a further four deceased individuals were identified in the surrounding waters. However, the specifics of their retrieval remain unclear – whether these individuals were recovered by the Mito or another ship in the vicinity is unknown.
Meanwhile, further south from Gavdos, a Thenamaris bulker known as Seabee (built in 2015 and with a deadweight of 62,700) was engaged in the rescue of an additional 47 migrants around 40 miles off Gavdos. Amid the turbulence of the situation, the crew managed to provide necessary aid.
Another vessel from the Mastermind Shipmanagement’s based in Cyprus, the Blue Ciment 4 (a ship with a dwt of 15,100, built in 2011) had launched a rescue operation 6 miles southwest from Cape Tainaron, the southernmost point of the Greek mainland. The ship’s crew succeeded in rescuing 28 individuals from a smaller boat.
In keeping with regular procedures, several of the rescued migrants were detained by the Greek authorities on suspicion of their involvement in people smuggling operations. Charges have been prepared with this allegation in mind.
Certainly, these incidents reflect the harsh realities and trauma of these migrants’ journey. As per the data from the Greek coastguards, a boat which the British Achiever encountered was carrying 32 refugees from Syria – comprising of 18 men, five women and nine minors. Other passengers hailed from Egypt, Sudan, and Bangladesh.
These individuals had embarked on this perilous journey from Tobruk in Libya, having paid EGP 200,000 (approximately $3,900) to secure their dangerous passage, according to information from the Greek coastguard. The Greek authorities currently have under detention a 35-year-old Egyptian man believed to have been the people smuggler for this group.
Similar narratives emerged from the other rescue missions conducted over the weekend. The Seabee had rescued 47 men comprising several nationalities – Syrians, Egyptians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Yemenis, and Sudanese –, who like the others, initiated their journey from Tobruk.
The deadly episode involving the Mito was predominantly marked by migrants originating from Pakistan. The ship they were traveling on had started its journey from Musaid, another Libyan town, before being found adrift by the Mito.
These stories, while distressing, highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by individuals fleeing war-torn countries in search of safety across the treacherous Mediterranean expanse. The efforts of the Greek maritime bodies, supported by commercial ships, stand as a testament to the human capacity for solidarity in times of crisis.
However, the unresolved issue of irregular migration and people smuggling underscores the importance of policy-strategic measures. The recurring instances of distress at sea call for international cooperative efforts to address the root causes behind these risky journeys and seek sustainable solutions for those risking their lives to reach safer shores.