Updated | Two NGO boats to offer supplies to Sea-Watch 3 stranded off Malta’s coast

Two supply boats are on their way to the Sea-Watch 3 humanitarian ship, which is currently stranded off the coast of Malta.

The Sea-Watch and Mediterranea, both part of the United4Med Alliance, left Malta on Friday to offer support to the NGO ship, which for 14 days has been awaiting the assignment of a port of safety.

The Sea-Watch 3, along with another vessel, the Professor Albrecht Penck, have been granted permission to seek shelter in Maltese waters but not to dock. A request was made as weather conditions at sea continue to deteriorate.

It is currently carrying 32 migrants, who where rescued on 22 December. An additional 17 migrants were rescued by the Professor Albrecht Penck.

READ ALSO: Maltese bishops ask European counterparts for support over stranded migrants

In a statement, Sea-Watch said that the aims of today’s joint mission were threefold.

“The first is to bring logistical and material support to the ship, to allow crew changes and to replenish supplies”, the NGO said.

“The second is to let German parliamentarians and church representatives embark to witness for themselves the circumstances of the rescued people, for which the European states are accountable, in order for them to report on the fragile situation on board to the German government in Berlin.”

“This government has not yet responded to the requests of dozens of German cities who have stated their willingness to welcome the rescued people.”

“The third objective is to bring German and Italian journalists on board so that they can once again speak of the consequences of the violation of the rule of law in the Mediterranean Sea and thereby push European states to assign a port of safety to the 49 people rescued by the Sea-Watch 3 and Sea-Eye’s Professor Albrecht Penck, as the law of the sea mandates,” Sea-Watch said.

The NGO underlined that, above all, this initiative demonstrates that the ships which save lives at sea are not alone, and that a significant part of European civil society is not resigned to the inhumanity and violence of indifference.

“The Alliance is doing, once again, what European authorities and governments are still unwilling to do: helping those at sea who make every effort, and risk their lives doing so, to alleviate the suffering of people, including very young children, who are traumatised by the hell of Libyan prisons and arbitrary violence and now face the very real risk of death at sea,” it added.

Alternattiva Demokratika calls for solidarity

Meanwhile, Alternattiva Demokratika and European Greens lead candidate Ska Keller have called on EU states to act quickly and offer a solution to the 49 migrants on board the two vessels currently stranded off the shore of Malta in a statement released on Friday.

They have also called for a fair and common European solution and agreement to a permanent distribution mechanism in the long-term.

“While waiting on EU Member States to negotiate a distribution system for the rescued refugee people’s lives are being put at risk. Storms are picking up and conditions on board these rescue ships is deteriorating. These refugees and migrants must be offered a safe port and not be left at sea.” AD Chairperson, Carmel Cacopardo said. 

Ska Keller, who is co-chair of the Greens-EFA group in the European Parliament and European Green Party, is due to join on-bard the Sea-Watch 3 Professor Albrecht Penck on Friday.

“All 49 refugees onboard the rescue ships Sea–Watch 3 and Professor Albrecht Penck must be allowed entry to a safe port. It is necessary that EU Member States are willing and ready to welcome them. On the EU level, we need regulations that will stop this from happening in the future. It is unacceptable that those fleeing harm and seeking asylum are left at sea," Keller said.

Keller added that within the European Union fairness is required, along with solidarity – she said that Member States must work on a long-term solution, towards a fair, sold distribution mechanism, that has already been decided on in the European Parliment. 

“Every time a rescue ship saves people, EU Member States close their borders and shift the blame onto another while the rescue ships and rescued refugees are denied access to safe ports. It is time for the EU to shoulder its’ humanitarian obligations.”