Astral (yacht) explained

The yacht Astral is a 30m ketch-rigged sailing yacht which was donated to Mediterranea Saving Humans (MSH) in 2016 by Livio Lo Monaco, head of Grupo Lo Monaco.^[1] Astral is a steel-hulled vessel and was designed by Philip Rhodes and built at Kröger Werft Rendsburg^[2] in 1970.^{[3] [4]}

In operating the yacht, Mediterranea Saving Humans also has the support of the German association Sea-Watch and the Spanish Proactiva Open Arms (POA).^[5]

Technical

In addition to her sailing capability, Astral has motor power from two 300hp Caterpillar diesel engines. Her speed is given as 10knots (cruising) and 12knots (maximum); her beam is 7.22m and her draught 4.1m Prior to conversion for rescue operations, she had been refitted in 2009.^[3]

Film

Astral featured in a documentary which was recorded on board during the same month that MSH received her by for Salvados, directed by Évole for Atresmedia Televisión.^[6] The box office takings from the documentary, shown at cinemas throughout Catalunya before being broadcast on TV, were earmarked in their entirety for MSH.^[7]

Selected reports of SAR activities

On one day in August 2016, Astral took on some 200 refugees.^[8]

A year later, formally announcing their support for Proactiva Open Arms, the Group described Astral as a 'flagship' for the rescue of refugees.^[9]

In August 2019, the Astral was reported to have saved 157 persons on a single mission.^[10]

At the end of 2016, Astral was augmented by the acquisition by POA of Golfo Azzurro, a fishing trawler 43 metres in length and 8 metres beam.^[11] However MSH continued to use the Astral in the Mediterranean, and in June 2020 when Astral returned to POA activity in the Mediterranean, Òscar Camps, head of MSH, tweeted that 2020 would be Astral's fourth year in the Mediterranean.^[12]

Awards

The Astral received the ALBA Human Rights Award in April 2017.^{[13] [14]}

Notes and References

1. News: Ana . Sánchez Juárez . Livio Lo Monaco, el fabricante de colchones que donó su yate para salvar vidas en el mar . Livio Lo Monaco, the mattress manufacturer who donated his yacht to save lives at sea . El Confidencial. 1 October 2016 . 19 March 2018 .
2. Web site: (History: 1987): NEW SHIPYARD ACQUIRED (Kröger Werft Rendsburg) . www.lurssen.com . 17 June 2021.
3. Web site: Astral . www.fraseryachts.com . 17 June 2021.
4. Web site: Negre, Javier . Astral: Las otras vidas del yate salva-inmigrantes de Évole. . . 27 August 2017.
5. Web site: Aktuelle Mission / Partner: Mediterranea / Mare Jonio . Current Mission / Partner: Mediterranea / Mare Jonio. Sea-Watch. de. 21 July 2019.
6. Web site: Pérez de Rozas, Emilio . 'Astral': Viaje de ida y vuelta al infierno. . . 27 August 2017.
7. Web site: Jordi Évole presenta el documental 'Astral'. . . 27 August 2017.
8. Web site: Dagmar Breitenbach . Saving lives at sea: how the "Astral" rescued hundreds in one day . 2016-08-30 . m.dw.com . 17 June 2021.
9. Web site: Arms open to solidarity: Eugin with Proactiva Open Arms . The group formalises its support for the initiative by the Spanish NGO that has saved thousands of refugees' lives in the Mediterranean with their ship Astral . 2 August 2017 . www.eugin.co.uk . 17 June 2021.
10. Web site: The Astral arrives at the Open Arms to assist the 157 people on board . 2019-08-12 . www.rac1.cat . 17 June 2021.
11. Web site: La oenegé Proactiva Open Arms cambia el 'Astral' por un barco más grande para el rescate de inmigrantes. . . 27 August 2017.
12. Web site: A pesar de todo y por cuarto año consecutivo Astral vuelve a entrar en el Mediterraneo . Òscar Camps . In spite of everything and for the fourth consecutive year Astral re-enters the Mediterranean . . Spanish.
13. Web site: Honors Proactiva Open Arms, which Has Saved Thousands of Refugees’ Lives . 6 March 2017 . albavolunteer.org . 17 June 2021.
14. Web site: Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms receives ALBA Human Rights Award . 17 April 2017 . aldianews.com . 17 June 2021.