Isles of the Left

A Closer Look At The Rescue Vessel Berthed In Limbo

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Detained Sea Watch 3 also serves as temporary home to its crew members. Sea rescue is not just about misery and suffering. There is space for hope and fun too. Toys, washing lines and origami birds in the engineer’s cabin are also part of a rescue vessel.

by Joanna Demarco

Photo by the author

 

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ver a month has passed since the rescue vessel Sea Watch 3 has been given the order to stay put in Malta, unable to leave its moorings.

Although the boat is at a standstill, slowly swaying with the movement of the sea beneath them, the volunteers polish up the vessel as they await the day when they can go back to rescuing people at sea. “We have to do the maintenance on the ship which needs to be done—to be ready to leave the port. On the other hand, we are trying not to get too desperate and angry about the situation, so that we try to spend some time on team building”, said one of the crew members.

Each mission lasts up to three weeks, with some volunteers doing as many as three, making the boat a temporary home. The vessel looks both homely and set to serve a multitude of people.

 

Marsa, as seen from the window of a crew member’s cabin. The vessel is berthed in the shipyard, unable to leave its moorings. Photograph: Joanna Demarco.

 

The engineer’s room at the bottom of the vessel is decorated with origami birds and other personal touches. Photograph: Joanna Demarco.

 

Water and mission gear are piled neatly, awaiting the next mission to save hundreds of lives. The rubber boats, used along with the rescue vessel, usually fit between 100-150 people, whilst the wooden boats can host twice or three times as many. Photograph: Joanna Demarco.

 

Washing lines and pegs hang at the topmost part of the vessel. Photograph: Joanna Demarco.

 

This box contains toys for rescued migrant children. The toys are especially handy when the rescued people have to stay on board for a longer period of time and the team keeps children entertained as best as they can. Photograph: Joanna Demarco.

 

The area where refugees stay once they are helped onto the boat. Drinking water is available at various points around the vessel. Photograph: Joanna Demarco.

 

Piles of cups are found all around the kitchen and are used to serve the migrants tea and rejuvenating drinks. Photograph: Joanna Demarco.

 

Beans and rice are the most common dishes cooked up by the team for the migrants, once they are rescued. Photograph: Joanna Demarco.

 

This room is designated for the crew to eat and socialise in. The team is an international one; the majority of volunteers are from Germany, others are from the Netherlands, Italy, the UK, Portugal, South Korea and Australia. Photograph: Joanna Demarco.

 

Joanna Demarco is a documentary photographer and writer based in Malta. Her work focuses on social and anthropological issues locally, and the effects of technology on mankind on a more global level.

 

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