Ocean Viking Crew Rescues 71 Migrants Near Libya

The Ocean Viking rescue ship, operated by SOS Mediterranee, rescued 71 migrants from a severely overcrowded rubber boat off the coast of Libya. Among those rescued were five women, including one pregnant woman, and 16 unaccompanied minors. The Italian rescue coordination center directed the crew of the Ocean Viking towards the Tuscan port of Livorno, over 1,000 kilometers away. This policy, advocated by the Italian government, aims to prevent overcrowding in southern Italian ports and requires rescue ships to sail further before disembarking those rescued.

Since 2016, SOS Mediterranee has rescued over 39,000 people in the Mediterranean. However, more than 3,000 people were reported missing, presumed dead while attempting to cross the Mediterranean last year. The Ocean Viking was recently impounded by the Italian government for deviating from its assigned route to a port in Bari. Despite this, the ship arrived in Bari on schedule and then set off for its current mission as soon as the detention order expired.

The Italian government’s policy aims to prevent overcrowding in southern Italian ports and requires rescue ships to sail further before disembarking those rescued. However, this has led to criticism from organizations like SOS Mediterranee, who believe the policy puts the onus of rescue on the Italian coast guard and commercial boats.

Source .