Financed by crowdfunding donations Sea-Watch could now afford to buy a bigger and more suitable ship for its missions in 2016. The 33m long „Clupea“ is a former research vessel and is currently refitted into „Sea-Watch 2“ in Hamburg to serve as a rescue vessel off the Libyan coast as soon as possible. The ship allows Sea-Watch to operate all year round and under bad weather conditions when most deadly accidents happen.
Harald Höppner, initiator of Sea-Watch
After having rescued more than 2000 refugees in the Mediterranean Sea in 2015 we assume to be needed in our operational areas more than ever. “Sea-Watch 2 is our answer to Europe’s failing foreign affairs that does not meet the need to act but instead tolerates deaths at sea.” states Sea-Watch initiator Harald Höppner. “In 2015 we as a civil formation had to perform rescue missions nearly every day because there were no official authorities on site. The reasons that push people to flee their home have not changed and lead us to the expectation that an equal or higher number of refugees will dare the passage of the Mediterranean in 2016. We will be there to help them.”
Sea-Watch skipper Ingo Werth (on the right).
After being stretched to our technical limits in 2015 we are now able to draw on our experience to establish a very efficient and successful mission draft for this year. The most important innovation that has not been possible on Sea-Watch 1 will be a medical ward on board of Sea-Watch 2 to treat seriously ill and injured people.
Donations for 2016 on sea-watch.org/en/donations
