Astral (yacht)
{{italic title}}
{{update |date=May 2023}}
The yacht Astral is a 30m ketch-rigged sailing yacht which was donated to Mediterranea Saving Humans (MSH) in 2016 by Livio Lo Monaco, head of Grupo Lo Monaco.{{cite news |first =Ana |last =Sánchez Juárez |title =Livio Lo Monaco, el fabricante de colchones que donó su yate para salvar vidas en el mar |trans-title=Livio Lo Monaco, the mattress manufacturer who donated his yacht to save lives at sea |url =https://www.vanitatis.elconfidencial.com/noticias/2016-10-01/livio-lo-monaco-fundador-rico-empresario-yate-astral-inmigrantes-mediterraneo-proactiva-open-arms_1267512/ |work = El Confidencial|date =1 October 2016 |access-date =19 March 2018 }} Astral is a steel-hulled vessel and was designed by Philip Rhodes and built at Kröger Werft Rendsburg{{cite web |url=https://www.lurssen.com/en/about/history/ |title=(History: 1987): NEW SHIPYARD ACQUIRED (Kröger Werft Rendsburg) |website=www.lurssen.com |access-date=17 June 2021}} in 1970.{{cite web |url=https://www.fraseryachts.com/en/yacht/astral/ |title=Astral |website=www.fraseryachts.com |access-date=17 June 2021}}{{cite web |author=Negre, Javier |url=http://www.elmundo.es/cronica/2016/10/16/58020de746163f7b588b4651.html |title=Astral: Las otras vidas del yate salva-inmigrantes de Évole. |work=El Mundo |access-date=27 August 2017}}
In operating the yacht, Mediterranea Saving Humans also has the support of the German association Sea-Watch and the Spanish Proactiva Open Arms (POA).{{cite web |url=https://sea-watch.org/das-projekt/mediterranea-mare-jonio/|title = Aktuelle Mission / Partner: Mediterranea / Mare Jonio |trans-title = Current Mission / Partner: Mediterranea / Mare Jonio|website = Sea-Watch|language = de|access-date = 21 July 2019}}
Technical
In addition to her sailing capability, Astral has motor power from two 300hp Caterpillar diesel engines. Her speed is given as 10knots (cruising) and 12knots (maximum); her beam is 7.22m and her draught 4.1m Prior to conversion for rescue operations, she had been refitted in 2009.
Film
Astral featured in a documentary which was recorded on board during the same month that MSH received her by {{ill|Jordi Évole|es}} for Salvados, directed by Évole for Atresmedia Televisión.{{cite web |author=Pérez de Rozas, Emilio |url=http://www.elperiodico.com/es/internacional/20161011/astral-documental-evole-salvados-refugiados-migrantes-mediterraneo-proactiva-open-arms-5484556 |title='Astral': Viaje de ida y vuelta al infierno. |work=El Periódico |access-date=27 August 2017}} The box office takings from the documentary, shown at cinemas throughout Catalunya before being broadcast on TV, were earmarked in their entirety for MSH.{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.es/2016/10/11/jordi-evole-documental_n_12441508.html |title=Jordi Évole presenta el documental 'Astral'. |work=The Huffington Post |access-date=27 August 2017}}
Selected reports of SAR activities
On one day in August 2016, Astral took on some 200 refugees.{{cite web |author=Dagmar Breitenbach |url=https://m.dw.com/en/saving-lives-at-sea-how-the-astral-rescued-hundreds-in-one-day/a-19513189 |title=Saving lives at sea: how the "Astral" rescued hundreds in one day |date=2016-08-30 |website=m.dw.com |access-date=17 June 2021}}
A year later, formally announcing their support for Proactiva Open Arms, the {{ill|Eugin|es}} Group described Astral as a 'flagship' for the rescue of refugees.{{cite web |url=https://www.eugin.co.uk/arms-open-solidarity-eugin-proactiva-open-arms/ |title=Arms open to solidarity: Eugin with Proactiva Open Arms |quote=The group formalises its support for the initiative by the Spanish NGO that has saved thousands of refugees' lives in the Mediterranean with their ship Astral |date=2 August 2017 |website=www.eugin.co.uk |access-date=17 June 2021}}
In August 2019, the Astral was reported to have saved 157 persons on a single mission.{{cite web |url=https://www.rac1.cat/societat/20190812/463999839312/vaixell-astral-open-arms-menjar-157-persones-ong-mediterrani-sos-mediterranee.html |title=The Astral arrives at the Open Arms to assist the 157 people on board |date=2019-08-12 |work=www.rac1.cat |access-date=17 June 2021}}
At the end of 2016, Astral was augmented by the acquisition by POA of Golfo Azzurro, a fishing trawler 43 metres in length and 8 metres beam.{{cite web |url=http://www.elperiodico.com/es/internacional/20161221/la-oenege-proactiva-open-arms-cambia-el-astral-por-un-barco-mas-grande-para-el-rescate-de-inmigrantes-5704698 |title=La oenegé Proactiva Open Arms cambia el 'Astral' por un barco más grande para el rescate de inmigrantes. |work=El Periódico |access-date=27 August 2017}} However MSH continued to use the Astral in the Mediterranean,{{cn|date=June 2021}} and in June 2020 when Astral returned to POA activity in the Mediterranean, Òscar Camps, head of MSH, tweeted that 2020 would be Astral's fourth year in the Mediterranean.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/campsoscar/status/1271367415608328193 |title=A pesar de todo y por cuarto año consecutivo Astral vuelve a entrar en el Mediterraneo |author=Òscar Camps |trans-title=In spite of everything and for the fourth consecutive year Astral re-enters the Mediterranean |work=Twitter |language=Spanish}}
Awards
The Astral received the ALBA Human Rights Award in April 2017.{{cite web |url=https://albavolunteer.org/2017/03/albapuffin-award-honors-proactiva-open-arms-which-has-saved-thousands-of-refugees-lives/ |title=Honors Proactiva Open Arms, which Has Saved Thousands of Refugees’ Lives |date=6 March 2017 |website=albavolunteer.org |access-date=17 June 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://aldianews.com/articles/culture/environment/spanish-ngo-proactiva-open-arms-receives-alba-human-rights-award/47420 |title=Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms receives ALBA Human Rights Award |date=17 April 2017 |work=aldianews.com |access-date=17 June 2021}}