Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) helped save close to 3,000 lives in the Mediterranean during its 60-day mission which ends today.
It will now embark on a fund-raising campaign in hope of relaunching the operation next year.
The station operates from MY Phoenix, a 40-metre vessel equipped with two rescue RHIBs, two SCHIEBEL camcopters and an 18-strong crew including paramedics, doctors and experienced rescuers.
This week it rescued 331 people from a boat and a dinghy in distress.
MOAS, which set sail on August 25, has carried out three 20-day missions at sea. During the missions, 1,451 migrants were rescued and sheltered on board MY Phoenix where they were given life-jackets, food, water, blankets and medical assistance.
MOAS also assisted the Italian authorities on a number of large rescues by helping transfer some 1,400 migrants onto Italian and merchant navy boats.
All migrants assisted by MOAS were disembarked safely in Italy under the direction of Rome’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.
“MOAS has been a fantastic success. We have proven to the world that we have the resources and professionalism to conduct effective rescues at sea. All our rescues were successful and without incident. Now we need to find a way to make MOAS sustainable in the long run,” founder Christopher Catrambone said.
He thanked organisations such as the US-based NGO Medical Bridges which had already contributed significantly through medical donations.
Mr Catrambone and his wife Regina funded the entire operation this year.
However, they are not able to continue funding the project on their own.
“We want to inspire others to be part of this project. We have already received some donations on www.moas.eu but this is a mission that costs at least €400,000 per month to operate effectively. We need to find other donors and partners who also want to save lives,” Ms Catrambone said.
MOAS director Martin Xuereb said the mission had become even more relevant with the winding down of Mare Nostrum, the Italian government’s initiative to save lives at sea.
“Whatever replaces Mare Nostrum must prioritise saving lives. The people we have rescued are coming from war-torn countries including Syria and Gaza, having travelled all the way to Libya which has deteriorated into violence once again. These people feel they have no option but to flee and are risking their lives to find safety. We must not let them drown,” Brigadier Xuereb said.