Hello! This week marks an anniversary that, as so often, makes us feel a lot of LOVE and HATE at the same time. 10 years of civilian sea rescue! More than 175,000 lives have been saved by the ships of the civilian fleet – which we have been a part of for several years. In other words: You, along with many others, have played an important role in saving 175,000 lives!
At the same time, 10 years of civilian sea rescue also means more than 30,000 deaths in the central Mediterranean alone – and, as always, that’s only the number of deaths known. The number of unreported deaths is so much higher. 10 years: expanded border barriers, absurd multi-million dollar deals with authoritarian regimes, including those in Tunisia and Libya, to externalize the EU’s external borders, and the ongoing and increasing violation of the rights of people on the move. People who would rather be left to drown in the Mediterranean or the Atlantic; die in the Tunisian desert, be beaten by police at European internal borders, endure unspeakable things in Libyan torture camps, or returned to unsafe countries of origin – anything, as long as they don’t come to Europe. Shame on EU!
We’ve just completed our sixth rotation with the Sea Punk I and are preparing for the next one. In the words of Angel, a crew member: “We’re ready to save more people. As many more… as many as we can save!”
More news from us below. Thank you for your support!
Love & Rage
Your Sea Punks
ROTATION NO. SIX OF SEA PUNK I
On our sixth rotation in May, we were able to help 294 people who were in distress and in danger of their lives while being on the move across the central Mediterranean. In some cases, we had to take more than 100 people on board to rescue them from their unseaworthy boats. Our Sea Punk I isn’t designed for this—but it was necessary and required to save lives.
We carried out our second rescue in this rotation together with the Nadir from Resqship – the Nadir is now detained by Italian authorities (link to german newspaper). More information below!
On board, the people are given food, have a chance to rest, and receive medical aid. Many of them are incredibly exhausted; by the time they begin their crossing of the Mediterranean, most have already endured many years of oppression, violence, torture, and flight.
We know that the EU will not welcome these people with open arms. The more we wish them all the best on their long journey to a safe life.
NO SEA RESCUE WITHOUT YOU! WE FINANCE OUR OPERATIONS THROUGH YOUR DONATIONS. EVERY DONATION HELPS US TO SAVE LIVES! PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO RUN OPERATIONS AND SAVE LIVES.
MEET THE CREW
The photos from our last rotation are courtesy of @madisontuff
She interviewed individual crew members back in the port of Augusta after the rotation. She asked Lauren how she reacts when people tell her they could never do what she does: sail into the Mediterranean and save lives. Lauren: “Everybody is just a person with their own life, but one day just decided to do something. All of us are evidence that we can do something about it and take action in their own ways.”
In fact, we’re often asked what we can do to help. A lot! And every one of us can. Also on board was Angel, who defined what PUNK in Sea Punks means to him: “The Punk in Sea Punks is philosophical. At the ship everyone is working super hard because they believe in what they are doing. They give everything what they have – and a little more.”
ITALY DETAINES AGAIN – SOLIDARITY WITH NADIR AND SEA EYE 5
The Italian Ministry of the Interior is once again implementing the Piantedosi Decree with greater force, and is now targeting the sailing ships and small boats of the civilian fleet: We stand with Sea Eye 5 and Nadir, both of which are being illegally detained and subjected to heavy fines! These practices have no legal basis! It is pure harassment and political arbitrariness – which ultimately costs lives. Because detaining ships means more people die trying to escape across the Mediterranean. Every day that these ships are detained and their crews criminalized for enforcing human rights is one day too many! It means even more deaths on the world’s deadliest refugee route.
Our Sea Punk I is also one of the smaller ships of the civilian fleet. We are monitoring what is happening very closely. We will not be intimidated. The civilian fleet will continue to rescue people as long as the EU leaves people on the move alone.
PEOPLE DO NOT LET PEOPLE DROWN. EASY AS THAT.
“These practices have no legal basis,” says Admiral Sandro Gallinelli, who served for 40 years as Coast Guard and is now retired. “Administrative measures must be justified and reasoned: there is no rationale here other than keeping NGOs away from the rescue area.”
175,000 LIVES SAVED – 10 YEARS OF CIVIL SEA RESCUE
To mark the tenth anniversary of civilian sea rescue in the central Mediterranean, United4Rescue, Sea-Watch, Sea-Eye, and SOS Humanity held a press conference last week to take stock and call for an end to the political blockades of rescue operations (link only available in german). Since 2015, civilian sea rescue has been providing immediate assistance in the central Mediterranean where politicians turn a blind eye.
By April 2025, ships of the civilian fleet had been involved in the rescue of 175,595 people – despite growing political and bureaucratic harassment. European states and the EU continue to focus on isolation rather than protection, disregarding international law. For example, the aforementioned Italian Piantedosi decree has led to the detention of civilian vessels in 28 cases since January 2023 – for a total of 680 days!
NEW MEDICAL DEVICES ON BOARD
Medical aid when it’s needed most. After nearly two years of sea rescue, we know: in many rescues, we take patients on board who require close monitoring of their vital signs – due to circulatory problems, exhaustion, hypothermia, or severe fuel burns. Thanks to a generous donation, we now have a modern patient monitor that helps us stay in control during critical situations.
Timely and accurate medical assessments can make all the difference. Some of the patients we treat on board suffer from internal injuries, dehydration, or complications related to pregnancy – conditions where a precise diagnosis is essential.
We now have a portable ultrasound device that allows our medical team to look beneath the surface – quickly, safely, and without delay. Whether it’s identifying internal bleeding, assessing fluid levels, or checking on an unborn child, this handheld tool gives us critical insights right at the patient’s side.
Providing medical care to people in need is not just a medical duty – it is a human right. The Geneva Declaration obliges us to “respect the health and life of my patient as my first consideration” – regardless of origin, status, or circumstances.
We and our medical team on board act according to this principle – at sea, for everyone.
Thank you for your attention
LOVE & RAGE
SEA PUNKS