Our Organization

Mare Liberum is monitoring human rights in the Aegean Sea with two ships. The aim is to observe, document and draw public attention to the dangerous situation at the European border between Turkey and Greece and to strengthen solidarity and fundamental human rights. Learn more

Germany is blocking our ships. We are taking legal action against it and submitted an appeal for an accelerated response!

Support us to act against this blockade! More information about the changes!

News

COVID-19 on the smaller Greek islands

August 10, 2020

The situation in the camps on Kos and Leros is a bit different, since they are continuously “closed” camps by definition. As the camps and the islands hosting them are much smaller, there are fewer solidarity networks and very little information about the current situation.

Menschenrechtsbeobachtungen in der Ägäis mit zwei Schiffen

How Greece and the EU systematically violate human rights

August 8, 2020

An overview of illegal and inhumane pushbacks in the Aegean Sea.

500 Million for Deterrence

August 5, 2020

In July 2020, the European Union granted an additional 500 million Euro to Turkey within the framework of the so-called "EU-Turkey Deal". Over 6 billion Euro have so far been paid to Turkey by the EU since the 2016 deal, whereby EU leaders persuaded the country to support them in “protecting their borders” by forcibly preventing a further influx of refugees.

Quarantine Camps - High Risk of Infection

July 30, 2020

The initial idea that COVID-19 would make everyone equal quickly was misplaced, especially on Lesvos. While race, nationality, gender, and wealth do not physically determine who is most likely to be infected with COVID-19, these factors starkly influence how comfortably and efficiently people can protect themselves from or suffer an infection with the virus.

The deadly border in the Aegean Sea

July 9, 2020

On June 29th the Turkish Coast Guard picked up a dinghy in distress. The boat had reached Greek waters before but was stopped there by the Hellenic Coast Guard. Instead of rescuing the people from the absolutely unseaworthy dinghy as it would have been their duty, the Coast Guard took away their fuel and pushed the 40 people on board back to Turkish waters.

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Become part of our crew! For 2020 we are now only looking for captains, engineers and photographers.

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Our Mission

There are a lot of people in boats crossing the area between the Turkish coast and Lesbos to find a safer life on Europe’s shores.

We are monitoring the human rights situation in this highly militarised zone, observing intersections, pickups and also landings.

The crew of Mare Liberum works together on their ship in order to monitor and document the situation, but also to organise their every day life on the ship. Learn more

Mare Liberum is usually docked at the port of Skala Loutron, a small village in the southeastern part of Lesvos.
The ship was built in 1917 and it is 21 m long and 5m wide.
The ship sails north for five hours at 6.5 knots.
The mission begins.
The anchor is dropped in Lamna reef point, in Greek territorial waters in front of the Turkish shores.
The anchor is dropped in Lamna reef point, in Greek territorial waters in front of the Turkish shores.
The Crew consists of seven members.
They organize monitoring shifts every day and night. Two people every three hours.
Radar, plotter and maps are used to monitor the navigational traffic.
The area is patrolled by the Turkish and the Hellenic coastguards, Frontex vessels and NATO warships.
Scanning the seaside with binoculars and listening to radio communications are the main activities of the crew during the night.
Scanning the seaside with binoculars and listening to radio communications are the main activities of the crew during the night.
Most of the mirgants' boats try to cross during night-time.
When the weather conditions are favorable, using the sail is possible to patrol the borderline.
The sea can be extremly dangerous even in good weather conditions.
Thousands of people lost their lives wheil crossing the border.
The crew meets regularly to discuss what they experince during the shifts and to archive the cases.
If needed, the back-office of Mare Liberum is ready to offer support and legal advice.
During day-time the crew takes care of the ship, degreasing the handrails and fixing the rudder.
During day-time the crew takes care of the ship, degreasing the handrails and fixing the rudder.
Among other activities the crew checks oil pressure, water temperature, batteries' state of charge and engines.
Cooking and eating together are part of the everyday life on the ship.
Cooking and eating together are part of the everyday life on the ship.
Putting oil, inflating and getting Mudda ready, the ship's rhib.
Putting oil, inflating and getting Mudda ready, the ship's rhib.
Final steps towards the end of the mission.
Final steps towards the end of the mission.
Final steps towards the end of the mission.