Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 29th of January 2020

Case name: 2020_01_29-CM227
Situation: a boats with 45 travellers, started from Zawiya, Libya and reached Open Arms
Status of WTM Investigation: concluded
Place of Incident: Central Mediterranean

Summary of the Case: On 29 January at 06:00h CET the Alarm Phone was called by a satellite phone. The travellers informed the shift team that they were 50 people on board, among them 3 babies and many women. They said they started the day before around 20:00h from Zawiya. The travellers were nervous and had no life jackets. The Alarm Phone received a GPS position which was provided to the so-called Libyan coast guard and the NGO vessel Open Arms at 06:54h via email. 10 minutes later the travellers called again and reported that the sea were very strong. In the next phone calls the Alarm Phone got a new GPS position which was transferred to the so-called Libyan coast guard, the NGO rescue vessel Open Arms and the reconnaissance aircraft Moonbird at 08:10h. Open Arms replied fast and stated they will proceed to the given position. The Alarm Phone stayed in contact to the travellers. At 10:29h they informed the shift team about a big ship in vicinity. At 11:51h Moonbird reported to have spotted the travellers and the merchant vessel ASSO VENTICINQUE which is standing by. Via radio Moonbird learned that another merchant vessel would arrive soon. The Alarm Phone feared push-back with the help of merchant vessels as it happened in other cases. Luckily, the crew of OOC PANTHER only gave water to the people and were awaiting the arrival of Open Arms. The Alarm Phone communicated all known details to the authorites at 12:45h. At 12:53h the first inflatable boats of Open Arms were deployed and heading to the travellers. At 15:25h Open Arms confirmed the rescue of 45 people.