On September 23rd, our chemical/oil tanker Mostar was en route to La Skhirra port, when we received an urgent instruction via satellite phone from the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Center (MRCC)  to participate in a search and rescue operation located 80 miles southeast of Malta island.

The boat was carrying 69 refugees from Libya to Italy, and our captain, Ömer Tütüncü, described the scene as nothing short of a humanitarian crisis.

Among the 69 individuals on the boat, there were 2 children, 2 women, and 1 elderly person. They all had wet clothes and lacked shoes, resulting in their feet becoming swollen from exposure to seawater. Immediately after being taken on board inside a warm area, their overall health was assessed, and they were provided with food, water, dry clothing, socks, and shoes.

On September 24th, at 11:00 AM, inside Augusta Breakwater in Italy, the Coast Guard arrived to transfer the refugees to safety.

We are immensely relieved and grateful for this successful rescue operation, where our master and his crew honourably fulfilled their duty at sea by showing an example of good seamanship and proofing the values and empathy they embody. We are proud and appreciative of their efforts.

Good and rapid cooperation between our crew and the authorities resulted in fast and safe disembarkation of the rescues.