Two German NGOs are experiencing a "New Year's Odyssey" after they rescued a total of 49 migrants in recent days from the Mediterranean Sea. They find themselves without a safe port to land, despite numerous appeals to various countries. Thus far, none of the requests by the Sea-Watch vessel, which rescued 32 migrants off the coast of Libya on December 22, nor those of the Sea-Eye vessel, which rescued 17 migrants four days ago, have gone answered. An imminent worsening of weather conditions and increasingly rough seas forced the vessels to head north into Maltese waters.

'The NGOs' New Year's Odyssey'

"Day 11 stranded at sea – our #newyear begins with seasickness and despair on board," Sea-Watch tweeted on January 1.

"Maritime law clearly states that the time people must spend at sea, after having been rescued from a situation of distress, must be reduced to a minimum," said Jan Ribbeck, head of mission on the Sea-Eye vessel. Both NGOs called on Germany for help, and in recent days both UNHCR and Save the Children launched appeals for a safe port of landing for the vessels. Sea-Watch published a list of countries that have refused to offer the vessels a port: Malta, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, and the EU.

Boat risked overturning

"We are hoping to receive the support of the German foreign ministry in our search for a safe port," the NGO said. Ribbeck used more direct terms: "We are disappointed by the Bremen Maritime Rescue Coordination Center; they did not state either verbally or in writing that they share our vision, but told us to follow the Libyans' orders." Sea-Eye said its volunteers are "opposed to bringing rescued people to the Libyan Coast Guard" because it would represent a "violation of international laws." In its summary it said that during the rescue, the boat risked overturning. On December 28 another NGO rescue ship, the Open Arms, docked at the port of Algeciras in Spain with 310 migrants aboard who had been rescued one week prior.