Hamburg, March 14th 2016

Sea-Watch 2 christening

We are happy to announce that our operational vessel for 2016 “Sea-Watch
2” will be ready to leave for the Mediterranean Sea from Hamburg at the
end of this week after going through extensive conversion and renovation.

Looking at recent political developments in a more and more shielded
Europe that are forcing refugees to undertake increasingly dangerous
escape manoeuvres we fear that civil maritime rescue will be needed more
than ever.

Sea-Watch 2 christening:
Location: Sandtorhafen, Hamburg Hafencity, Germany
Date: Friday, March 18th 2016
Schedule: 11:00 am press conference, 12:30 am christening followed by
“Open Ship”

Video and photo: Sea-Watch 2 in motion
Location: Norderwerft/Landungsbrücken, Hamburg, Germany
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 11:00 am
Schedule: You will have the opportunity to generate material of the
overpass of Sea-Watch 2 from the shipyard Norderwerft to Sandtorhafen

“Sea-Watch 2 is our reaction to failure of EU politics” says Sea-Watch
chairman Harald Höppner. “As an organization we are now able to draw on
broad treasure of experience; nevertheless maritime rescue still is
responsibility of official authorities. We demand a safe and legal
passage to prevent any more people from drowning at sea.”

After having rescued more than 2000 people off Libyan coast in 2015
Sea-Watch is motivated to continue its life-saving mission this year.
Since flight causes have not changed or decreased in the past year we
expect an even higher number of refugees trying to cross from Libya to
Italy.

Main renewal on Sea-Watch 2 will be a medical ward to treat seriously
sick and injured refugees on board. Moreover the 33m Long ship allows
Sea-Watch to operate all year round since it is bigger and better
equipped also for difficult weather c

Among numerous crew members also project initiator Harald Höppner, head
of mission Ingo Werth and medical coordinator Frank Dörner will be
available for interviews on friday.
Simone Herrmann, chairman of Hanseatic Help, will conduct the
christening together with Modibo Traore who himself fled across the
Mediterranean on a boat.

On site you will be able to visit the ship and collect quotes from
Sea-Watch members before or after the christening. If you want to see
Sea-Watch 2 in motion please come on thursday at 10:30 am.

For any further questions do not hesitate to contact project spokesman
and crew member Ruben Neugebauer or visit our homepage http://www.sea-watch.org/en.

You can reach Ruben Neugebauer
via telephone +4915773689421 or
via mail presse@sea-watch.org