Two Offshore Construction Vessels Assist Refugees in the Mediterranean - The Maritime Executive

Jan De Nul's installation vessel brought aboard 15 radical recovered drifting successful the Mediterranean (Jan De Nul)

Published Nov 17, 2022 7:42 PM by The Maritime Executive

With the migrant situation continuing crossed the Mediterranean much commercialized ships are encountering radical astatine oversea oregon being asked to supply assistance. This week, 2 much commercialized ships person go progressive portion planetary assistance and humanitarian groups proceed to telephone for a much broad response.

Dutch offshore operation and contracting steadfast Van Oord is reporting that it is the latest to supply assistance astatine the petition of the authorities. Its cable-laying vas Nexus (6,500 dwt) with a unit of 27 was transiting the Mediterranean connected November 16 erstwhile it was contacted by the Malta Rescue Coordination Center. They were requested to assistance a tiny vessel overloaded with refugees that was successful information owed to worsening upwind conditions.

“It is chartless for however galore days the refugees, each men, were connected a oversea journey,” Van Oord said successful reporting the rescue. “Their root is besides unknown, owed to connection barriers.”

Van Oord's vas was requested to supply assistance by the Maltese authorities (Van Oord)

The Nexus was capable to find the tiny vessel overnight betwixt November 16 and 17 and determined that determination were 49 men aboard. The institution reports that each 49 refugees look to beryllium successful bully wellness but weakened, and immoderate were hypothermic. The Nexus unit provided them with nutrient and lukewarm drinks and a harmless determination connected deck.

Coordinating with the Maltese seashore defender it was agreed that the cable-laying vas would proceed to Malta. It arrived astatine the land precocious connected November 17 and the program was to transportation the refugees to the Maltese Coastguard.

Van Oord’s study came conscionable days aft Belgian engineering and offshore operation and attraction institution Jan De Nul besides encountered refugees successful the Mediterranean. The company’s offshore installation vas Simon Stevin (35,930 dwt) came upon a sloop drifting successful the Mediterranean connected November 10. 

According to the company’s report, their unit spotted a sloop astir 45 miles disconnected the seashore of Algeria. They reported that determination were 8 men, 2 women, and 5 children successful the tiny vessel that had been drifting for respective days connected the Mediterranean Sea.

"The unit took the refugees connected board. All 15 were successful bully health, but weakened and hypothermic. The unit gave them food, drinks, lukewarm clothing, a bed, and blankets to recuperate. They spent the nighttime connected committee and were picked up by the Algerian coastguard connected Friday morning," Jan De Nul said.

Simon Stevin took aboard 15 radical recovered disconnected Algeria (Jan De Nul)

The United Nations and the NGOs operating successful the Mediterranean person reported melodramatic increases successful the fig of radical attempting to transverse the Mediterranean from Africa. Recently, they person reported that with the changing governmental climates successful Europe they are encountering much absorption to their efforts. Italy for illustration blocked an NGO’s efforts to onshore antheral refugees astatine the opening of November forcing 1 vas to divert to France. 

Under SOLAS regulations, vessels are required to supply assistance and present individuals recovered successful distress to a larboard of safety. However, the deficiency of a broad argumentation continues to spark statement including the relation of emblem states erstwhile vessels assist. In August 2020, the tanker Maersk Etienne recovered itself caught successful a standoff for 38 days aft assisting 27 migrants it rescued with nary state agreeing to licence the vas to onshore the individuals.