‘Aquarius’ returns to central Mediterranean, vowing to disobey orders in order to save lives

The MV Aquarius, the source of Europe’s first migrant standoff of the summer between Malta and Italy in June, is back in the central Mediterranean and has vowed to once again disobey orders from sovereign states if it means saving lives.

In a statement, SOS Mediterranée, the European rescue organisation that charters the ship, said that “should the Aquarius be instructed to wait while there is a boat in imminent danger and the Aquarius finds herself in a position to save people from drowning, she will not wait”.

It also warned that, “Should the Aquarius be instructed to disembark the rescued people in a Libyan port or to transfer them onto a ship that would return them to the situation they are fleeing from, the Aquarius will always refuse.

“Libya cannot be considered a safe place.”

SOS Mediterranée cites figures from the International Organization for Migration to the effect that since early June, with humanitarian ships being prevented from saving lives in the rescue zone off the Libyan coast, at least 717 people have drowned in the Central Mediterranean.

SOS Mediterranée states, “The Aquarius is returning to sea because people continue to die attempting to escape the Libyan hell. The Aquarius is resuming her mission because rescuing people is the duty, responsibility and purpose of all ships and crews in the Central Mediterranean. However, today, the ships dedicated to search and rescue of boats in distress are fewer than ever.

“The Aquarius is sailing back into international waters off the coast of Libya because this is her right. The aid she can, and always has, provided is efficient, professional and humane.”

It also flatly denies that the organisation is assisting human trafficking: “Some people have argued that the Aquarius is complicit in the humanitarian tragedy that has been unfolding in the Mediterranean for far too long.

“That is simply not correct: the Aquarius’ one and only objective is to save lives at sea; to prevent men, women and children from drowning. All her actions are guided by one single imperative anchored in international maritime law: to help people at risk of dying in international waters as best and as quickly as possible and to bring them to a place of safety, where their basic needs are met and their rights protected and guaranteed.

“As she has consistently done in the past, the Aquarius continues to be committed to always coordinating her actions with the relevant maritime authorities. She also commits once again to follow all instructions regarding rescue, in respect of the applicable international maritime conventions.”

SOS Mediterranée insists that in all circumstances, the Aquarius “is bound by and will refer to her duty to assist”.

“In practice, this means that when (made) aware of a boat in distress and even when the com- petent maritime authority should order the Aquarius not to approach the scene and provide assistance. The Aquarius can only comply with these instructions of non-assistance if she can ascertain that all other available means/assets are deployed to save the people in danger and bring them to a place of safety.

“Similarly, should the Aquarius be instructed to wait while there is a boat in imminent danger and the Aquarius finds herself in a position to save people from drowning, she will not wait.

“Finally, should the Aquarius be instructed to disembark the rescued people in a Libyan port or to transfer them onto a ship that would return them to the situation they are fleeing from, the Aquarius will always refuse. Libya cannot be considered a safe place.”

“The Aquarius,” the organisation says, “has become a symbol of maritime solidarity. She is the eyes and the ears of citizens who, like her, consider that at sea and on land, rescuing and helping those in danger prevails over all other considerations.

“While these days this fundamental and well-recognized principle is called into question on the shores of the Central Mediterranean, the Aquarius fully commits to publicise everything that she witnesses at sea and to denounce anything that contradicts the rules for rescue at sea and other applicable international standards defined by international maritime conventions and others several decades ago.”

In the meantime, the northern French city of Lille on Friday welcomed 42 Sudanese refugees who were rescued by the Aquarius during a ceremony conducted by Lille’s mayor Martine Aubry. France had agreed to take in 78 of the 630 migrants who were on board the ship, after Malta allowed it entry into port.

“France has decided to grant you refugee status,” Aubry said. “Today this is the end of a long, extremely difficult and painful odyssey for you and, we all hope, the beginning of a better life that we will assist you with.”

She handed them certificates from France’s asylum authority, which grant them refugee status and a 10-year residency permit.