Catching up with the Bourbon Argos
In only 8 months of operation in the Mediterranean for the humanitarian association Médecins Sans Frontières, the Bourbon Argos rescued over 12000 migrants during the 75 interventions in 2015. Today, the vessel has returned to a Cypriote port.
"The crew and the Doctors Without Borders teams had to find just the right words to explain that everything was going to be ok, that they were safe and were in good hands."Ruslan VoznyukCaptain on the bourbon argos
However important it may be, the report of the rescue operations undertaken by the Bourbon Argos does not nearly reflect the value of the tasks achieved by the members of the humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders and the vessel’s crew. Over many months, the crew had to manage not only the technical aspect of the operation, but also the crucial human aspect; under chock and stranded the refugees had to be rescued, welcomed, reassured and comforted. "The crew and the Doctors Without Borders teams had to find just the right words to explain that everything was going to be ok, that they were safe and were in good hands. We would comfort them, distribute water, food and clothes as well as offering first aid to those would need it." explains Captain Ruslan Voznyuk.
As a show of support to Doctors Without Borders, BOURBON has made a donation of 30 000 € to the humanitarian association, enabling the humanitarian organization to cover the costs of life jackets, survival covers against hypothermia.
During the operations, though somewhat unusual for a vessel dedicated to offshore operations, the crew went above and beyond their duty by ensuring professionalism with regards to the security of navigation and of the passengers aboard the Bourbon Argos.
With the increasingly more difficult weather conditions, the need for refugees rescue operations is declining, therefore the operations have stopped.
