Dear friends of Sea-Eye,

the SEA-EYE 4 was detained on Friday evening by the Italian Coast Guard in Ortona for 20 days. Authorities justified the detention by saying that after rescuing 17 people the vessel rescued 32 more people in a second operation and did not proceed to the port of Ortona as soon as possible.

Once again, the Italian government is making a reprehensible attempt to reduce the arrivals of people seeking protection by criminalizing and restricting our work. Reducing arrivals means drowning people or returning them illegally.

For years we have faced state repression and yet we have never been kept down. And we will continue to fight this time as well, in order to start our next mission as soon as possible. The fact that we still exist is mainly due to our great supporters who have stood by us even in hard times. And now we have to ask for your help again. 

The forced stay in Ortona generates higher costs due to higher berth fees and harbor dues. Please help us with your donation so that we can prepare the next operation. I am also sorry to inform you today that donations have dropped very significantly in May. Please support Sea-Eye and feel free to forward our request for donations.

Yours, Gorden Isler
- Chairman of Sea-Eye e. V.

PS: Read on our website all the info about the rescue operations that led to the detention of the SEA-EYE 4.