Open Arms (watercraft)

Open Arms is a Mediterranean rescue vessel operated by the Proactiva Open Arms NGO. Before 2018, it was named Ibaizabal Tres.

Operations
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.

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.

During the course of 2019, the vessel rescued a total of 324 people from the sea.

In November 2020, Open Arms rescued 250 people in one week.

On 5 October 2023, the ship was confiscated by Italian Authorities, after rescuing 176 people from three vessels in distress on 30 September 2023, in violation of rules demanding immediate return to port after each individual rescue.

2024 Gaza maritime corridor
The ship began delivering food to the Gaza Strip in March 2024 via a maritime corridor negotiated by the Cypriot government. The loaded barge contained at once around 200 tons of food.