Open Arms’ new rescue ship docks at Barcelona port

Boat that can take in 1,000 refugees to remain in city for several days before departing to Mediterranean

Open Arms' new boat heading to the port of Barcelona on May 22, 2022 (by Open Arms via ACN)
Open Arms' new boat heading to the port of Barcelona on May 22, 2022 (by Open Arms via ACN) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

May 23, 2022 11:44 AM

The Catalan refugee rescue NGO Open Arms, which works in the Mediterranean Sea, has docked its latest ship in the Barcelona port on Sunday. The Open Arms Uno sailed from Valencia’s Burriana dockyards to the Catalan capital. 

This is the largest boat in the NGO’s fleet with a length of 66 meters and capacity for 1,000 refugees. 

The Open Arms Uno will remain in the port for a few days before departing to the Mediterranean sea to carry out rescue missions. 

"After eight intense months, and overcoming several obstacles and administrative difficulties, we can finally welcome the new Open Arms Uno to its port base in Barcelona," Òscar Camps, founder of NGO Proactiva Open Arms, said in a video published on Twitter. 

The boat can reach any "part of the world," Camps explained. The ship will soon be presented to residents and "once it has been fully equipped and ready, it will start sailing," he added. 

NGO Open Arms helping Ukraine

The non-governmental organization is not only working on rescuing refugees from the Mediterranean sea but also assisting those in need in Ukraine

Open Arms is working hand-in-hand with Catalan authorities and the NGO Banc dels Aliments to send material to the country under invasion. 

In a large warehouse in Barcelona’s Zona Franca port area, several teams work to organize the material received in several collection points across Catalonia.