22.07.2024
Sandra Hüller names rescue ship SEA-EYE 5
The ship will set sail on its first life-saving mission in the Mediterranean later this year
On July 22th, Oscar-nominated actress Sandra Hüller together with Omorogbe Peter Obamwonyi, Maritime Crew Manager at Sea-Eye, named the all-weather lifeboat SEA-EYE 5 at a ceremony in the harbour of the Italian city of Ancona. The vessel operated under the name NIS RANDERS for the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) until 2020. As the civilian rescue ship SEA-EYE 5, it will come to the aid of people in distress at sea on the world's deadliest escape route. Since 2014, almost 30,000 refugees have died in the Mediterranean.
QUOTE SANDRA HÜLLER
QUOTE PETER (SEA EYE)
The purchase price of around 465,000 euros was financed by a fundraising campaign organised by United4Rescue, a broad alliance in support of civilian sea rescue with over 900 partners initiated by the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). Sandra Bils, board member of United4Rescue, said in her speech:
“We are overwhelmed by how many people have donated to the all-weather lifeboat in such a short space of time. The willingness to donate shows: We will not turn a blind eye when European countries allow people in need of protection to drown in the Mediterranean. Together we are taking a stand against the deadly isolationist policies and sending the SEA-EYE 5 as the fourth Alliance ship to the Mediterranean!”
A sickbay will be set up on board to treat medical emergencies. Its equipment and operation will be made possible by Sea-Eye's long-standing partner organisation German Doctors. Managing Director Dr Christine Winkelmann emphasised at the celebrations:
“For us, it is a human rights obligation to help people in need and provide them with medical care - whether on land or at sea. Our doctors continue to report immense suffering: traumatised people, hypothermic and dehydrated with various injuries. They have often been through the worst before they come on board the rescue ship. The conditions are unbearable. Through the voluntary work of experienced on-board doctors and the entire medical team, we are trying to make the right to medical care a reality, even in these adverse circumstances.”
SEA-EYE 5 was built in 1990 and belongs to the 23.3 meterclass, a series of seven DGzRS lifeboats. Until 2018, it was stationed off Maasholm on the coast of Schleswig-Holstein and was operated by the DGzRS without a fixed base for a further two years. The all-weather lifeboat has been overhauled and modernised and will soon set off on its first mission in the Central Mediterranean.
In order to cover the annual budget of the SEA-EYE 5, Sea-Eye is currently looking for 3,000 monthly donors to ensure the operation of the all-weather lifeboat. The conversion of the ship, the first missions, and part of the long-term financing are secured by two long-term loans from GLS Bank and a crowd campaign from its cooperation partner, GLS Crowd.
Photos of the christening and the rescue cruiser can be found here.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:
United4Rescue: Susanne Jacoby, , +49 (0)151 501 26 724
Sea-Eye e.V.: Konstanze Schön, , +49 (0)155 661 528 89
