NGO-Run Ocean Viking Ship Rescues 85 Migrants Including Newborns and Pregnant Women

Rome: The Ocean Viking vessel operated by the NGO SOS Mediterranee rescued 85 people on Monday night, including three newborns and three pregnant women, after their dinghy encountered difficulties in the Libyan search and rescue zone, the organization announced on Tuesday.

According to Ansa News Agency, one of the rescued passengers was a young teen. The NGO reported that the migrant vessel was “extremely overcrowded and was reaching a breaking point after taking on water.” Authorities have designated Genoa as the port for disembarking the rescued migrants, necessitating a four-day journey far from the operational area of the Ocean Viking.

Since 2022, SOS Mediterranee claims to have lost 171 days due to the policy of assigning distant ports for disembarking, which they argue significantly reduces the time available to assist people in danger. “This practice leaves several lives at risk in the Mediterranean in a clear violation of maritime law,” the NGO stated.

The Italian government, led by Premier Giorgia Meloni, has implemented policies directing NGO rescue ships to ports far from search and rescue areas. This is reportedly to alleviate pressure on Sicilian ports and reception facilities. However, NGOs involved in maritime rescue operations criticize the policy and the ban on conducting multiple rescues, arguing that these measures keep their boats away from their operational areas for extended periods and cause them to operate below capacity.