Mare Jonio is 37m long (some sources give 38m, more specifically 37.55m in one source[8]), with a beam of 9m and a draught of 3.2m.[9] The ship has a maximum speed of 13knots.[8]
Earlier history
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adding to it. (June 2021)
Between 2007 and 2018 the ship operated largely on the western side of Italy.[9][10]
SAR history: Selected events
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adding to it. (June 2021)
2018
Mare Jonio began SAR operations by setting sail on 3 October 2018.[2][11]
2019
Mare Jonio was seized by the Italian authorities in September 2019 over a dispute regarding the legality of landing shipwrecked refugees at Italian ports.[12] The ship remained confiscated until February 2020, when a jury accepted Mediterranea's appeal, immediately releasing the ship from seizure.[13]
2020
During March 2020 MSH announced that its two ships, Mare Jonio and Alex would suspend their navigation due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.[14] Operations resumed in June 2020,[15] and sixty people were rescued on 19 June,[16] followed by another forty-three on 29 June.[17]
The ship was declared to be subject to mandatory maintenance work and has been in the port of
Chioggia, Italy, since November 2020.[18]
2024
The crew of Mare Jonio was attacked by the
Libyan Coast Guard while conducting a
Search and rescue operation in international waters, approximately 95 miles north of Libyan coastline.[19]
Awards
The Mare Jonio together with the Maersk Etienne were given the "Seafarers’ Award" 2021 at Copenhagen.[20]