RFI aboard “Ocean Viking”: facing the wind!
The weather conditions - darkness, wind, temperature, swell ... - are a determining factor for the success of a rescue operation at sea, the team of the "Ocean Viking" is fully aware of this.
© Guilhem Delteil / RFI
Text by: Guilhem Delteil Follow
5 mins
The Ocean Viking, the boat of the SOS Mediterranean organization, is carrying out a new rescue campaign in the central Mediterranean.
At sea in January and February, the ship rescued 796 people from Libya to Europe.
RFI is embarking on board for this mission.
Every day, we receive the logbook from our special correspondent.
Publicity
Read more
►
Sunday March 14:
the meteorological concern
The weather forecasts make the teams of the “Ocean Viking” fear “the worst-case scenario”.
© Guilhem Delteil / RFI
If you always need
"a hand for the boat" in
order to stabilize (see
logbook of Monday March 8
), you also have to constantly keep an eye on the weather.
The three-day forecast is being watched carefully.
In recent hours, the strength of the wind has increased.
It is currently around twenty knots (37 km / h).
The sea, flat until Saturday evening, now has waves of two meters.
For the navigation crew, the postman plays on the possible trajectories and the time to reach his objectives.
With a tail wind, the
Ocean Viking
is currently carried by the elements.
An increased wind force also means an intensifying roll.
Even for experienced sailors, bodies have to adapt.
And faced with the concerns or questions of those new to sea crossings, the regulars, considerate, give their advice to fight seasickness. Everyone has their recommendation: ginger tea, exercise, rest, eat well ... or take a stamp.
At sea, the wind is now blowing at 20 knots and the waves are two meters long.
But along the coasts, conditions should be more favorable for departures.
© Guilhem Delteil / RFI
But the meteorological factor is above all scrutinized for the consequences it has on operations.
“
When the wind comes from the north and blows on the Libyan coast, it prevents departures.
You have to imagine that these are not boats capable of really propelling themselves
,
”
explains Claire, one of the rescue sailors aboard the
Ocean Viking.
“
It's going to be difficult for them to go against the elements.
Nothing but the force of the wind and the waves prevents them from leaving,
”continues the young woman who has been leading rescue operations in the central Mediterranean for two years.
Conversely, a calm sea along the Libyan coast tends to favor departures.
And weather forecasts point to a situation where in the coming days, the sea could be rough offshore but calm along the Libyan coast.
“
This is the worst case scenario for us,
” Judge Nicola Stalla, the search and rescue coordinator.
“
This is a situation that we have already experienced in the past.
The boats leave because the conditions on the coast allow it, but the weather offshore is totally different.
""
Bad weather is another factor that puts people in danger.
Their boat is already barely afloat.
When the weather deteriorates, their survival time at sea is reduced,
”says Claire.
For rescuers, bad weather complicates rescue operations.
© Guilhem Delteil / RFI
In rough seas, the working conditions are also more complicated.
During binocular watch tours, boats are more difficult to spot between the waves.
Once in intervention, the maneuvers of the boats, shaken by the waves, are more difficult: the pilots must show great concentration to maintain the stability necessary for the operations.
Visibility is also reduced: “
when the sea is calm, you can see a little better what is happening on the stage.
With the wind, when people are in the water, they are less visible.
The head of a human being between two waves is very small,
”explains Claire.
More than ever, the time factor then becomes fundamental.
Especially since the waves can fill the boat in distress.
"
When there is bad weather, everything is complicated
", summarizes the rescuer sailor.
► Reread
the logbook of the first week on
Ocean Viking
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
International Migration
our selection