Banksy migrant rescue ship stranded, one dead

A Banksy-funded migrant rescue boat has called for help after it became stranded off the coast of Malta, with one dead person on board.

A migrant who was just helped off the rescue ship funded by British street artist Banksy "Louise Michel" is covered with a blanket on board the civil sea rescue ship Sea-Watch 4 off the coast of Malta, on August 29, 2020. Picture: Thomas Lohnes / AFP

A Banksy-funded migrant rescue boat was stranded for hours in the Mediterranean Sea yesterday after it became overcrowded.

There are 219 people on the Louise Michel, but one person has died, according to tweets posted from the vessel’s account.

The former French navy boat – launched under its new guise last week, featuring a Banksy painting depicting a young girl holding on to a heart-shaped safety float – was off the coast of Malta when it announced it was unable to safely move because of an overcrowded deck.

However, after significant social media attention, a rescue mission was launched.

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We repeat, #LouiseMichel is unable to safely move and nobody is coming to our aid. The people rescued have experienced extreme trauma, it's time for them to be brought to a #PlaceOfSafety. We need immediate assistance.

— LouiseMichel (@MVLouiseMichel) August 29, 2020

One tweet said: “#LouiseMichel is unable to move, she is no longer the master of her manoeuvre, due to her overcrowded deck and a life raft deployed at her side, but above all due to Europe ignoring our emergency calls for immediate assistance. The responsible authorities remain unresponsive.”

Another read: “We repeat, #LouiseMichel is unable to safely move and nobody is coming to our aid. The people rescued have experienced extreme trauma, it‘s time for them to be brought to a #PlaceOfSafety. We need immediate assistance.”

The vessel has already carried out a number of rescue missions, according to its Twitter account, and on Friday evening said it had assisted another 130 people.

Migrants were helped off the rescue ship funded by British street artist Banksy Louise Michel sit covered with blankets on board the civil sea rescue ship Sea-Watch 4 off the coast of Malta, on August 29, 2020. Picture: Thomas Lohnes / AFP

The rescue ship Louise Michel can be seen with a pink paint job from infamous street artist Banksy. Picture: Thomas Lohnes / AFP

Another humanitarian aid ship, the Mare Jonio, announced it was leaving the Sicilian port of Augusta on Saturday to come to the Louise Michel‘s aid.

But the Italian coast guard beat them to it, sending a vessel to take 49 of the most vulnerable people off the ship to bring them to safety.

With overcrowding being the issue, it appears that the Louise Michel is once again able to move.

#LouiseMichel just transferred all remaining guests onto #SeaWatch4, who now have about 350 people on board. It's not over: We demand a Place of Safety for all survivors, now. pic.twitter.com/KjUEG6yp4A

— LouiseMichel (@MVLouiseMichel) August 29, 2020

These are the survivors you are turning your back on #EU. After escaping untold horror and inhumanity they need a place of safety. @guardiacostiera @Armed_Forces_MT you must act now. pic.twitter.com/W4IEUAGido

— LouiseMichel (@MVLouiseMichel) August 29, 2020

However, the refugee ship didn’t let that stop its criticism of the EU’s refugee policy.

“It‘s not over: We demand a Place of Safety for all survivors, now,” the ship said in a tweet.

“These are the survivors you are turning your back on #EU. After escaping untold horror and inhumanity they need a place of safety.

“You must act now.”

The vessel was bought with the proceeds of some of Banksy‘s works and is captained by a professional crew with a “flat hierarchy and a vegan diet”.

A crew member of the civil sea rescue ship Sea-Watch 4 takes the temperature of a migrant wearing a protective face mask who was just helped off the rescue ship. Picture: Thomas Lohnes / AFP