Aquarius Dignitus facts for kids
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The MV Aquarius, also known as Aquarius Dignitus and Aquarius 2, is a special ship built in 1977. It has been used since 2016 to help people who are in danger at sea. These are often refugees and migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea.
Since February 2016, two non-profit groups, SOS Méditerranée and Médecins Sans Frontières (also called Doctors Without Borders), have used the Aquarius. They use it to rescue migrants and refugees. These people often travel in small, unsafe boats from Libya to Italy. This is part of a larger situation called the European migrant crisis.
The Aquarius used to be a German coast guard and fishing protection ship. Its old name was Meerkatze. It was built in 1977. The ship can hold 25 crew members and usually carries 4 journalists. It can also carry up to 300 rescued people. These rescued people sleep on the deck because the ship does not have beds or cabins for them. In late 2018, the ship faced problems with its flag, which is like its official registration.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 Germany |
|
| Name | Meerkatze |
| Operator | German Coast Guard |
| Ordered | 30 December 1975 |
| Builder | Lürssen |
| Launched | 19 November 1976 |
| Commissioned | 9 December 1977 |
| Fate | Transferred to NGO SOS Méditerranée |
 Gibraltar |
|
| Name | Aquarius |
| Acquired | 1 May 2009 |
 Panama |
|
| Name | Aquarius 2 |
| Operator | NGO SOS Méditerranée |
| Acquired | 1 September 2018 |
| Identification |
|
 Germany |
|
| Name | Aquarius 2 |
| Operator | NGO SOS Méditerranée |
| Acquired | 1 September 2018 |
| Identification |
|
 Liberia |
|
| Name | Aquarius Dignitus |
| Operator | Jasmund Shipping GmbH & Co. KG |
| Acquired | 1 November 2018 |
| Identification |
|
 Russia |
|
| Name | Aquarius |
| Identification |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage |
|
| Length | 252.6 feet |
| Beam | 38.5 feet |
| Draught | 19.0 feet max. |
| Installed power | Diesel-electric |
| Propulsion | 2x Siemens AG Dynamowerk IP 4330-2 DM 04 |
| Speed | 15 knots |
History of the Aquarius Vessel
The ship was finished in 1977 by a company called Lürssen in Bremen, Germany. It was first used by the German Federal Coast Guard. Its job was to protect fishing areas. This is why it was called a "Fischereischutzboot" or fishery protection vessel.
The Aquarius was built to handle tough sea conditions. It was even classified as an icebreaker. This meant it was good at sailing through ice. It mostly worked in the central North Sea and North Atlantic Ocean.
In 2009, the ship was taken out of service. A new ship replaced it. Then, a company from Bremen bought it and renamed it MV Aquarius. It was registered in Gibraltar. From 2009 to 2015, it worked as a survey vessel. This means it helped with projects related to renewable energy, oil, and gas at sea.
On September 1, 2018, the ship's operators changed its name to Aquarius 2. They also changed its official type from "research vessel" to "search and rescue vessel."
The ship has been managed by Jasmund shipping GmBH since 2017. Before that, Hempel shipping managed it. The ship has been owned by Aquarius GmBH & Co KG since April 2009. In August 2018, the ship was checked in Valletta, Malta. Some small issues were found, like problems with crew papers and escape routes.
Rescue Operations in the Mediterranean Sea
In February 2016, the non-profit group SOS Méditerranée rented the ship. Their goal was to rescue and help migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea. These people were trying to reach the European Union.
The Aquarius worked on missions planned by Rome's maritime rescue coordination centre. It patrolled the waters around Sicily, Lampedusa, and near the Libyan coast. It helped over 10,000 migrants. On May 25, 2016, the Aquarius saved 388 migrants in one trip. A baby boy from Ghana was born on board. He was named Alex after the ship's captain, Alexander Moroz.
In June 2018, the ship was carrying 629 migrants. They had been saved from the sea. But Italy's new Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, would not let the ship enter Italy. Malta also refused entry. Then, the Government of Spain offered the ship a safe place to dock in Valencia. The Italian Navy even helped escort the ship there. The Aquarius arrived in Valencia on June 17. Many of the rescued people later chose to seek safety in France.
In August 2018, Spain again refused entry to the ship. It was carrying 141 migrants from Eritrea and Somalia. Spain said it was not the closest safe port. These people were later taken in by France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Spain.
On September 20, 2018, the Aquarius rescued eleven people from a small boat. They were from Pakistan and the Ivory Coast. The ship asked Italy and Malta for permission to let them off, but both countries said no. The migrants were later transferred to another ship near Malta. This happened after European governments agreed to take them. The Aquarius 2 then returned to Marseille.
In late 2018, Italy often refused entry to the ship. This forced it to land in Malta and Spain instead. Italy had seen many migrants arrive on its shores in previous years. In December 2018, MSF and SOS Méditerranée announced they stopped using the ship. They faced accusations, but they said they wanted to continue their rescue work in the future.
The Ship's Flag and Registration
The Aquarius was registered under the flag of convenience of Gibraltar since February 2018. It was listed as a "research and survey vessel." This caused problems later. On August 6, 2018, Gibraltar said it would remove the Aquarius from its registry. This was because the ship was registered for research but used for rescue.
Because of this, the ship's operators looked for other countries to register the ship. On August 10, 2018, they asked to register it with the Vatican-State flag, but this was not allowed. On August 27, 2018, the ship arrived in Marseille. Its operator, MSF, said the owner had applied to register the ship in Panama.
However, on September 22, 2018, Panama's maritime authority said it would remove the Aquarius from its registry. They said the ship had not followed international rules about migrants and rescue at sea. Panama said Italy had told them the Aquarius was not following rules. Specifically, it was accused of not taking rescued migrants back to Libya, which is where they came from.
In September 2018, the ship was still listed as a research vessel with the Gibraltar flag. This caused issues with authorities. A research vessel cannot act like a passenger ship unless its official documents are changed. After the ship returned to Marseille in October 2018, the owner said they were trying to get a new flag from Switzerland, Luxembourg, or Venezuela.
Later, on September 1, 2018, the ship changed its name to Aquarius 2 and its flag to Germany. Then, on November 1, 2018, it changed its name to Aquarius Dignitus and its flag to Liberia.
Images for kids
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Meerkatze in German coast guard colors in 2006
See also
In Spanish: Aquarius 2 para niños
