Open Arms (watercraft)
{{short description|Tugboat launched in 1974}}
| {{Infobox ship begin |infobox caption=}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image=Open Arms in Pozzallo.jpg | Ship caption=Open Arms in Pozzallo, Italy }} {{Infobox ship career | Ship country=Spain | Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Spain}} | Ship name=Open Arms }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Header caption= | Ship length=36.9 m{{cite web |url=https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:85582/vessel:OPEN%20ARMS |title=Open Arms (IMO: 7325887) |website=Marinetraffic |access-date=28 May 2021}} }} |
Open Arms is a Mediterranean rescue vessel operated by the Proactiva Open Arms NGO. Before 2018, it was named Ibaizabal Tres.{{cite web |url=https://www.vesseltracker.com/en/Ships/Ibaizabal-Tres-224772000.html |title=IBAIZABAL TRES Tug (MMSI: 7325887) |website=www.vesseltracker.com |access-date=28 May 2021}}
The vessel is 37 meters (121 feet) long and its work can be followed online.{{cite web |url=https://www.vesseltracker.com/en/Ships/Open-Arms-7325887.html |website=Vessel Tracker |title=Open Arms}}
Operations
In November 2018, a joint campaign was launched by Proactive Open Arms, SOS Méditerranée and Sea-Watch, which used Open Arms, Mare Jonio and Sea-Watch 3, along with the Moonbird aircraft, to continue with the rescue of refugees in the Mediterranean. This followed after a few weeks during which the states had prevented them from acting in various ways.{{cite web |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/internacional/20181123/open-arms-proactiva-mediterraneo-7163995 |title=El «Open Arms vuelve al Mediterráneo a rescatar inmigrantes» |language=es |website=elperiodico |date=2018-11-23 |access-date=10 January 2023}}
In August 2019, while the boat was off Lampedusa and prevented from entering port for a period that eventually extended to 19 days, the actor Richard Gere arranged delivery of supplies and went aboard to distribute them to the refugees.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/nov/19/richard-gere-open-arms-rescue-boat-heart-of-salvini-trial |title='It was mind-boggling': Richard Gere on the rescue boat at the heart of Salvini trial |author=Lorenzo Tondo |newspaper=The Guardian |date=19 November 2021 |access-date=28 March 2023}}
During the course of 2019, the vessel rescued a total of 324 people from the sea.{{cn|date=March 2023}}
In November 2020, Open Arms rescued 250 people in one week.{{cite web |url=https://www.catalannews.com/society-science/item/open-arms-refugee-rescue-ship-saves-250-people-in-the-last-week |title=Open Arms refugee rescue ship saves 250 people in the last week |date=12 November 2020 |website=www.catalannews.com |access-date=28 March 2023}}
On 5 October 2023, the ship was confiscated by Italian Authorities, after rescuing 176 people from three vessels in distress on 30 September 2023, in violation of rules demanding immediate return to port after each individual rescue.{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italy-impounds-migrant-charity-ship-after-multiple-rescues-2023-10-05/ |title=Italy impounds migrant charity ship after multiple rescues |date=5 October 2023 |access-date=6 October 2023 |website=Reuters}}
= 2024 Gaza maritime corridor =
{{Main|World Central Kitchen#Operation Safeena}}
The ship began delivering food to the Gaza Strip in March 2024 via a maritime corridor negotiated by the Cypriot government.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-20 |title=Joint humanitarian initiative by Open Arms and World Central Kitchen |url=https://www.openarms.es/en/news/joint-humanitarian-initiative-by-open-arms-and-world-central-kitchen |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=Open Arms |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2023-12-05 |title=Cyprus pushes Gaza corridor idea; leader to visit Egypt, Jordan |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/cyprus-pushes-gaza-corridor-idea-leader-visit-egypt-jordan-2023-12-04/ |access-date=2024-03-12 |work=Reuters}} The loaded barge contained at once around 200 tons of food.{{cite news |date=10 March 2024 |title=US military ship heading to Gaza to build port |website=www.bbc.com |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68526503 |access-date=10 March 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Birchard |first=Rosie |date=2024-03-11 |title=Aid ship waits to set sail from Cyprus to Gaza |url=https://www.dw.com/en/aid-ship-waits-to-set-sail-from-cyprus-to-gaza/video-68497149 |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-03-11 |title=Leading aid delivery in Gaza by sea, air, and land |url=https://wck.org/en-us/news/gaza-aid |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=World Central Kitchen |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |date=2024-03-12 |title=WCK aid sets sail for Gaza |url=https://wck.org/news/gaza-aid-boat |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=World Central Kitchen |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Gaza aid reaches shore in first sea delivery |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68581090 |website=www.bbc.com |access-date=16 March 2024 |date=15 March 2024}}
See also
- List of migrant vessel incidents on the Mediterranean Sea
- List of ships for the rescue of refugees in the Mediterranean Sea
- Timeline of the European migrant crisis
- Mediterranean Sea refugee smuggling
- Aita Mari
- Hellenic Rescue Team
- Iuventa
- Mediterranea Saving Humans
- Migrant Offshore Aid Station
- No Border network
- Proactiva Open Arms
- Sea Watch
- SOS Méditerranée