Slightly Relentless Activity ...

In the 28 hours before the end of our patrol at 0800 this morning, starting at 0430 the morning before, we calculated that we had launched 6 times, including for a 4 hour training session (our first as a team) and a 4 hour patrol. We had been on the water for 14 hours and "on service" for ten of those. During that time we assisted 88 people. 

After escorting the 44 in on the Frontex boat described in the last blog, we were walking away when we heard a report of a boat on the radio. We went out with Proactiva but in the end it was a false alarm so we returned for breakfast. 

After that we went out on exercise, our first as a full team. We were out for four hours training for every eventuality we could think of: towing dinghies, man over board, recovering casualties, beach landings etc etc. I felt that we became more cohesive as a team and I learned our strengths and weaknesses. I think the shared experience of all volunteering for the lifeboat at Atlantic College also helps. 

After a two hour nap, a fitness session (rescues can be quite physical) and a large dinner we headed to bed to sleep till our patrol. Half an hour later we were woken by a call to say that there was a boat near the shore. After some confusion as to their location we found that they had already landed and were on the shore below steep cliffs. There were people climbing the cliffs and others in the water. 

There was great consternation as we approached and called to them, until we realised they thought they were still in Turkey. Once we made them understand they were in Greece and we weren't police, they calmed down and came back to the shore. We found a channel through the rocks to get closer to them. 

At that point it became a little confused. We came in to check if there were any injured and discovered that they spoke a mixture of English, French, Pashtu and other unidentifiable languages. Because I can speak French,  Max and I swapped so I could concentrate on communication rather than skippering the boat. On discussion with Proactiva, who were also in the bay, we decided to ferry people to them for them to take to Skala in batches. As soon as I explained in French and English what was going on they ALL tried to board us at  once. Adam and I had a slightly hot five minutes dissuading them and preventing them from swamping us while Max and Bill kept the engines clear of the rocks. 

Once we had gained a semblance of order we started ferrying them out to Proactiva. Every time we left with four or five aboard we had to reassure the others that we would come back to them. I found that only a personal promise to come back for them calmed them down. They always wanted to know my name when I promised, as if that were a contract. Half way through the transfers the Greek Coastguard ship 061 arrived and requested that we transfer the casualties to them. At this point Lighthouse relief arrived on the shore and helped maintain order there. During our return trips to shore we discovered how thirsty and tired we were. It always surprises me during pauses in rescues to discover the toll they are taking. It took us an hour and a half to transfer everyone then we returned for a debrief and to try and catch a couple of hours sleep before our patrol. 

We hadn't even lain down before there was another call. Communications (comms) were heard on the radio between a NATO warship and Turkish coastguard. I managed to plot the coordinates and we proceeded with Proactiva following. En route I noticed a black silhouette between us and the shore. We slowed to investigate and suddenly a strong searchlight lit up a tiny dinghy. The ship from which the searchlight came then put its lights back on. It was a Turkish coastguard boat running "dark" because she was in Greek waters. We confirmed with Proactiva that they were in Greek waters and because they started to apprehend the refugees, which was illegal for them to do (they have no jurisdiction in Greek waters), we and Proactiva started to film. We didn't manage to capture the fact they had been running dark which possibly means they were aware of their wrongdoing. The dinghy was tiny, maybe 10 feet long and packed with about 10 people. They started to bring them aboard their ship and we saw three very young children, including one baby who can't have been more than a couple of months old. Seeing that baby really brought home to me the desperation of these people. Any parent willing to risk crossing the sea with a literal babe in arms must feel a desperation akin to panic. The fear that means that you are willing to place your child in that much danger is incomprehensible to me. Probably to everyone who has not been in that situation. Again I am reminded of the line in the poem :

“No-one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark…. No-one puts their child in a boat unless the water is safer than the land.”  (Warsan Shire, Somalian poet and refugee). 

These waters are not safe! 

They were all safely brought abroad the Turkish coastguard boat and she turned and steamed for  their base. We had been concerned by the legality of the situation and had made the NATO warship in the area aware of events. They asked the Turks' intent but could do nothing more. Those refugees in the boat are now probably incarcerated in Turkey for trying to leave. The whole thing left a slightly bitter taste in my mouth. However it could have been much worse. They were safe and alive and that is the most important thing. 

After the drama of the night our patrol was very uneventful. Between scans on the horizon we could watch the Perseid meteor shower flashing across the Milky Way and I for one found myself literally counting my lucky stars for my privileged and safe life. 

Our crew: L-R Adam, Bill, Max and me