Wallenius Shipping has prepared Distress Aid Kits for all vessels, about 40 kits have been put together. They will give the crew the opportunity to help as many as 200 people. The content can also be used in connection with a possible spread of infection, the company said in its press release.
Last autumn, m/v ANIARA and her crew helped and took care of 220 refugees. The weather was warm and beautiful which helped the relief work significantly and all the distressed were able to safely and securely be left ashore in Sicily.
m/v ANIARA accommodates a crew of 33 people, so to give shelter to more than 200 distressed may seem hard. Where will people sleep, what can they eat and how can they keep warm? Luckily the weather was favorable, and most were able to sleep outdoors without getting cold. A skilled cook managed to saturate many stomachs and the crew helped to take care of those in need.
m/v ANIARA is so far the only one of our ships that has rescued refugees in distress in the Mediterranean. Despite this, our Risk Management Department has worked to develop a so-called "Distress Aid Kit" that all vessels will be equipped with. It will contain emergency blankets and other emergency supplies that may be needed in such a situation.
“Yes, it is a lesson we learned after this incident. The Distress Aid Kit can be used in several different situations, not just to take care of refugees. Therefore, all of our vessels shall have one, no matter where in the world they sail”, says Peter Jodin, Safety & Quality Manager at Wallenius Shipping.
The kit will include:
Life boat rations
Emergency blankets
Paper cuts/plates
Plastic cutlery
Water canisters
ID tags
Gloves
Face masks
Eye protection masks
Hand sanitizer
Disposable coveralls