Hope Refugee Award goes to heroic captain and owner

‘Mr Tuygun and Mr Erdogdu earned the Award for demonstrating a great sense of responsibility to assist to those in distress at sea. This is a longstanding maritime tradition as well as an obligation enshrined in international law,’ said the UNHCR Turkey office spokesman. However, in recent similar situations, the disputes between states on who should allow the disembarkation of rescued people ‘has discouraged ships and fishing boats from helping, penalising both them and the migrants.’

On 16 April, the Pýnar found the migrants off the Maltese coast, struggling to survive on two ships that were ready to capsize. The crew of the Turkish ship took the migrants onboard and shared their food and water with them while also calling on Maltese and Italian officials for help.

The authorities in Malta had instructed MV Pinar to rescue the migrants’ boat since it was the closest vessel to its position. The Turkish cargo ship confirmed that there were 70 people on board in need of help. MV Pinar then informed the authorities in Malta that another boat carrying some 80 people was approaching.

When one of the boats stopped due to lack of fuel, the authorities in Malta reminded the captain of the vessel that according to international law, he had to take on the distressed people and head for the closest and safest harbour.

The ship picked up the migrants off the Italian island of Lampedusa, and a diplomatic storm then developed as Italy and Malta refused to allow them in.

For four long days neither the Maltese nor the Italians were willing to accept migrants into their territory, turning the situation on the Pýnar into a humanitarian crisis in the face of depleted food and water supplies.

Italy argued that Malta was responsible for the search and rescue region and should therefore take the migrants, while Malta said the migrants should be taken to the nearest safe port, which was in Italy. Italy eventually relented and the migrants were taken to Sicily.