Open Arms (watercraft)
Open Arms is a Mediterranean rescue vessel operated by the Proactiva Open Arms NGO.

It is 36.9 meters long and 9.5 meters wide. Before 2018, it was named Ibaizabal Tres.[1][2]
In November 2018, a joint campaign was launched by Proactive Open Arms, SOS Méditerranée and Sea-Watch, which used Open Arms, Mare Jonio and Sea-Watch 3, along with the Moonbird aircraft, to continue with the rescue of refugees in the Mediterranean. This followed after a few weeks during which the states had prevented them from acting in various ways.[3]
In August 2019, while the boat was off Lampedusa and prevented from entering port for a period that eventually extended to 19 days, the actor Richard Gere arranged delivery of supplies and went aboard to distribute them to the refugees.[4]
During the course of 2019, the vessel rescued a total of 324 people from the sea.
In November 2020, Open Arns rescued 250 people in one week.[5]
References
- Open Arms (IMO: 7325887) in Marinetraffic, accessed 28 May 2021
- IBAIZABAL TRES Tug (MMSI: 7325887) www.vesseltracker.com, accessed 28 May 2021
- Periódico, El «Open Arms vuelve al Mediterráneo a rescatar inmigrantes» (es). elperiodico, 23-11-2018, accessed 10 January 2023
- ‘It was mind-boggling’: Richard Gere on the rescue boat at the heart of Salvini trial Lorenzo Tondo www.theguardian.com, accessed 28 March 2023
- Open Arms refugee rescue ship saves 250 people in the last week 12 November 2020 www.catalannews.com, accessed 28 March 2023