After the Trotamar III arrived in Lampedusa at the beginning of the week, the crew completed further training off the south coast of the island. Dinghy training on the open sea is much more challenging than the training the crew has already completed in the harbor basin of Licata, which is relatively protected from wind and waves. That’s why we also complete dinghy training on the open sea before each deployment to familiarize the crew members with the conditions we expect on the central Mediterranean Sea.

The Trotamar III is now on her way to the SAR zones. With little wind and plenty of sunshine, the crew is on the lookout for people making their way from the African coast to Europe. Despite the calm conditions, this journey is very dangerous, as the refugees usually have no choice but to set sail in unstable boats that are generally not seaworthy. The central Mediterranean Sea remains one of the deadliest escape routes in the world.