Hi there!
Things have been moving fast for us since we left dry dock and got the Sea Punk I back in the water. In July, we completed our first rotation of the year, during which we were able to rescue nine people from distress at sea—including seven unaccompanied minors—and bring them safely ashore.
As you read this, the next crew is already training hard in the port of Augusta for their rotation in the Mediterranean. We are scheduled to be back patrolling the search area in the central Mediterranean as early as next week.
WE LACK FUNDS FOR THE THIRD ROTATION 2026
Plans for the rotation following the next one—scheduled for November 2026—are already well underway, but we can only pull it off with your financial support. The lengthy but essential time spent in the shipyard has left a six-figure hole in our budget! Civil sea rescue operations cost money—but failing to carry them out costs lives!
Will you help us? We want to set sail for the search-and-rescue zone in the Central Mediterranean again in 2026. We aim to be on the scene to provide life-saving assistance when people fleeing for their lives find themselves in distress at sea—just as international law mandates. It is a duty that EU states ought to fulfill, yet instead, they strip people of their rights and knowingly let them drown.
Your donation makes a difference. Even a contribution of just 5 or 10 euros from each of you helps us move forward. Alternatively, you can become an amboatsador:a for the Sea Punk I and support us with a monthly recurring donation.
62 DEAD IN JUST THREE WEEKS
It is hard to bear: our operations in the Mediterranean are more necessary than ever! NGO vessels currently at sea are witnessing harrowing scenes. Those on the ground spot lifeless bodies floating in the water—people for whom any help comes too late. We know this not because it is in the news, but because we and others are there on the scene! Bodies are recovered, washed ashore, or spotted from the air. In just three weeks, more than 62 fatalities have been recorded. Behind every individual lies a name, a story, loved ones, and the universal human desire for a life in safety. They did not have to die—their deaths are the result of political calculation.
YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
The UN has reported a sharp rise in migrant fatalities in the Mediterranean for 2026, already recording over 1,000 deaths and disappearances—even though the total number of crossing attempts has decreased. At the same time, Italy is persisting with its policy of assigning distant ports. This means sending ships carrying rescued people to Italian ports located so far from the search area that it takes days for the vessels to arrive. The aim is to keep NGO ships away from the search and rescue zone. The consequence is obvious: fewer ships mean more deaths.
But it also means that every ship on site makes a real difference! And with your support, you make that difference!
FIGHT RACISM. SAVE LIVES.
Civil sea rescue is a promise—a promise of life. Your support enables us to head out on our next mission. Become a recurring donor now and stand with us in the fight for human rights and freedom of movement for everyone—not just for privileged white people. Fight racism. Save lives.
Our crew trains every day and will soon be ready to rescue. You can find all the details on our social media channels and of course in our next newsletter.
Love & Rage
Yours truly
Sea Punks