'You were salvation'

A repurposed supply vessel provides a lifeline to migrants who risk their lives to cross the Mediterranean in a desperate bid for a new life.

- GIACOMO SINI

Mohammad, a young Syrian man of 24, climbs the steps of the ship. After the first few paces on deck, he breathes a sigh of relief. Then he looks up at the sky and smiles. After seven hours in the open sea, he is safe. We are on board the Life Support, the Italian humanitarian agency Emergency's boat in the central Mediterranean.

Life Support is a repurposed supply vessel, refitted for search and rescue operations in the perilous water crossings between northern Africa and Europe.

It can transport up to 175 people in addition to its international crew of 28, which includes a doctor and two nurses, squads to operate inflatable rescue boats, cultural mediators, logistics experts and mariners, all under the command of ship's master Domenico Pugliese.

Emergency launched Life Support in 2022. The non-government organisation had provided onshore support to the shipwrecked for many years as part of its remit, but decided it might do better to help at sea.

"We have always worked in difficult conditions, in favour of the victims of war and poverty," says Alessandro Bertani, Emergency's vice-president. "With Life Support, we continue this work at sea, because those we save are desperately looking for a chance to survive rather than to live better."

On quiet days, the crew practise rescue simulations, ready for any eventuality in any sea conditions, in the dark or in broad daylight.

Today, Life Support is sailing through increasingly rough seas in the Maltese search and rescue zone.

"From now on, we must be ready for anything and keep our radios on at a high volume," urges Ani Montes Mier, the search and rescue co-ordination manager.

A few hours later, she summons the crew a mayday relay has been received from Frontex, the European Union's border and coastguard agency. About 40 people have been spotted on a gas platform in Tunisia's Miskar gas field.