A rescue boat funded by the street artist Banksy is already saving refugees in the Mediterranean Sea, the project has said.
The Louise Michel, a former French navy boat, was launched after being given a new look depicting a young girl holding on to a heart-shaped safety float.
The boat, captained by Pai Klemp, was purchased with some of the proceeds from Banksy’s works.
According to the Guardian, Banksy approached Klemp in September asking for help due to experience captaining a number of non-profit organisation (NGO) boats.
The boat's main aims, according to their website, is to “uphold maritime law and rescue anyone in peril without prejudice” and that “nationality should not make a difference to what rights one has”.
The website adds that the boat answers the “SOS call of all those in distress, not just to save their souls – but our own.”
The ship has already rescued 89 people from a rubber boat on Tuesday after a distress signal was sent out, according to the site.
The UN’s data says that 443 people have died at sea this year attempting to cross the Mediterranean.
The project organisers blame European Authorities for this by saying that they are “leaving desperate people to drift helplessly at sea”.
Banksy’s representatives have been contacted to comment
