Die Seenotretter and Hellenic Rescue Team cooperate in saving lives at sea in Lesvos

Since February, boat Minden of Die Seenotretter – DGzRS (www.seenotretter.de/wer-wir-sind) German Rescue Team in collaboration with Hellenic Rescue Team’s and HRT’s local branch attempts in Lesbos Island. The boat, which lengths 23m, is manned with DGzRS and Hellenic Rescue Team crew and conducts patrols on a daily basis in collaboration with the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) and Mytiline’s Coast Guard, supporting Coast Guard’s effort s in research, rescue and collect refugees from dinghies.

Minden’s operation in Lesbos Island is included in «Members Helping Members» program of International Maritime Federation (IMRF), in relation to which European Organizations support Hellenic Rescue Team’s and Coast Guard’s efforts at the Aegean with rescue boats, equipment, training programs and human resources. According to, until now, German Team’s schedule, the rescue boat will stay in Greece for, at least, 3 months, while its crew will be collaborating closely with Hellenic Rescue Team in missions as well as in training. German Minden’s first operation took place in collaboration with Hellenic Rescue Team’s boat, Rescue 1, which is in Lesbos Island since November in relation to HRT project, “Aegeas”. This particular project is implemented by Hellenic Rescue Team and it concerns supporting team’s branches in Lesbos, Samos, Kos and Chios with additional crew from HRT volunteers around Greece and rescue equipment in order to enhance their operational efficiency.

Every day, DGzRS crew, convey their skillful expertise and experience on water rescue to the members of Hellenic Rescue Team who force MINDEN and at the same time they have, already, started First Aid training to HRT volunteers of the island. In addition, the German organization entrusted and assigned to an HRT member, who is on a daily basis to MINDEN vessel, to intercommunicate with the involved to the project authorities and forces for better results among them.

The boat’s reception ceremony at Mytilenes marina, which took place at February, 6, attended the Regional Manager of North Aegean, Christiana Kalogirou, Mytilene’s Coast Guard local coordinator of Poseidon Rapid Intervention organisation, Antonis Sofiadelis, DGzRS and International Maritime Federation CEO (IMRF), Captain Udo Helge Fox, HRT CEO, Giorgos Kalogeropoulos, HRT Vice President, Nikos Priporas, representatives of the island’s Fire Department and Police Headquarters, DGzRS crew and many members of Hellenic Rescue Team and HRT’s local branch.