Humanity One and Ocean Viking, here are the two ships that the Minister of the Interior does not want in Italy

The passage in Italian waters for two ships committed to saving lives in the Mediterranean was considered "prejudicial to the peace, good order and security of the coastal state" by the Interior Ministry, Minister Matteo Piantedosi, with a directive that mirrors the similar one issued by the then Minister of the Interior, Matteo Salvini, in March 2019. 

The two ships, belonging to as many NGOs, are

and

and refer, respectively, to the NGOs

and

. 

Humanity 1

is actually the

.

Prior to its use as a rescue ship, the Sea-Watch 4 was a research ship and was called "

".

It was owned by the Land of Schleswig-Holstein and managed by the Geomar Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel.

The ship was built in 1976, is over 60 meters long and 11 meters wide.

She was bought at auction in 2020 by Sea-Watch and the NGO coalition United4Rescue and named "Sea-Watch 4" in February 2020. She flies the German flag. 

"After extensive restructuring measures - explains the NGO - it is now one of the largest and best equipped rescue ships in the Mediterranean".

On the ship there is, among other things, a protected area for women and children and an infirmary.

The Sea-Watch 4, which cost the NGO 1.3 million euros, can host and treat about 300 refugees on board.

In case of serious emergencies, however, there may be many more, for a short time.

During the mission, the crew consists of 26 people on board.

In the last few hours the ship's crew rescued 22 migrants who were on a dinghy in danger.

A few hours earlier he had rescued 113 people.

Now 180 people are safe on the unity of Sos Humanity.

is registered as a cargo ship with the Norwegian International Ship Registry (Nis), and therefore flies the Norwegian flag

.

The vessel was formerly used as a support and rescue vessel for offshore oil and gas platforms in the North Sea.

She built in 1989, she is 69.3 meters long and 15.5 meters wide.

The large bridge, once empty, now houses a container module.

The ship is now equipped for search and rescue with four High speed rescue boats (Rhibs), with a clinic for medical consultations, triage and recovery rooms.

The Mediterranean Sos team consists of 13 people and is led by a Search and Rescue Coordinator.

Another 9 people are part of the maritime crew and are employees of the shipowner.

After the last rescues, including women and several children, 146 migrants rescued off the coast of Libya are traveling on board Ocean Viking.