{{italic title}} The '''''Bourbon Argos''''' is an [[anchor handling tug supply vessel]] from the oil & gas offshore marine servicing company Bourbon Offshore Greenmar, and sails under the [[Luxembourg]] flag.
The ship was chartered to [[Médecins Sans Frontières]] (MSF) in 2015. The organization equipped ''Bourbon Argos'' as a sea rescue ship.
==Description== The ship is a {{convert|68|m|ftin|adj=on}}-long anchor handling tug.<ref name="VT">{{cite web |url=http://www.vesseltracking.net/ship/bourbon-argos-9390082 |title=Bourbon Argos (IMO 9390082) - Offshore Tug/Supply Ship |website=vesseltracking |access-date=6 June 2021}}</ref> The ship is propelled by two four-stroke eight-cylinder [[diesel engine]]s made by [[Maschinenbau Kiel]] (MaK), each with an output of {{cvt|4000|kW|lk=in}}. The motors act on two [[Variable-pitch propeller (marine)|variable-pitch propellers]], both of which are mounted in a [[Ducted propeller|ducted enclosure]]. The ship also has two transverse [[Manoeuvring thruster|thrust control systems]] in the bow and another transverse thrust control system in the stern area. Two shaft generators with an output of 1600 kW each (apparent power 2000 kVA), two auxiliary generators with each 350 kW output (apparent power 438 kVA) and an emergency generator with 72 kW output (apparent power 90 kVA) are available for the power supply.
The ship has a [[dynamic positioning]] system (DP 2). The [[bollard pull]] of the ship is 136 t. The ship has a {{cvt|420|m2}} open working deck behind the superstructure. A total of 800 t of goods and equipment can be carried here. The deck can be loaded with 5t/m<sup>2</sup>. There are six single cabins, eight double cabins, two four-bed cabins and a hospital on board. A total of 30 people can be accommodated in the cabins.
==Construction and career== ''Bourbon Argos'' was built under construction number 356 at [[Bharati Defence And Infrastructure Limited|Bharati Shipyard]] Limited, [[Ratnagiri]] and completed in April 2013.<ref name="VT"/>
In 2015 the ship was converted for use as a rescue ship. [[Shipping container|Containers]] were set up on deck with an emergency room, an examination room, a dressing room, a room for hygiene materials and a store; a morgue was also set up. The ship is operated by the Maltese organization [[Migrant Offshore Aid Station]] (MOAS) and MSF. The Bourbon Argos can take 300 to 350 people on board.<ref>{{cite web |first=Alessandro |last=Penso |url=https://www.aerzte-ohne-grenzen.de/mittelmeer-seerettung-fluechtlinge-bourbon-argos |title=Ärzte ohne Grenzen verstärkt Such- und Rettungseinsatz im Mittelmeer |trans-title=Doctors Without Borders step up search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean |work=Médecins Sans Frontières/Ärzte ohne Grenzen |language=German |date=11 May 2015 |access-date=8 June 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525002647/http://www.aerzte-ohne-grenzen.de:80/mittelmeer-seerettung-fluechtlinge-bourbon-argos |archive-date=2015-05-25 }}</ref> A team of doctors, nurses, logisticians, water and sanitation experts and intercultural mediators is on board. 15 nautical crew members are responsible for the ship's technology.<ref name="BO-Interview">{{cite web |url=http://www.bourbon-offshore-greenmar.ch/en/offshore/bourbon-argos-mediterranean-rescue-operations |title=Bourbon Argos: Mediterranean rescue operations |website=Bourbon Offshore Greenmar |date=22 September 2015 |access-date=8 June 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226034544/http://www.bourbon-offshore-greenmar.ch/en/offshore/bourbon-argos-mediterranean-rescue-operations |archive-date=2015-12-26 }}</ref> In addition to medical help for boat refugees in the Mediterranean, relief supplies are distributed to those who have been rescued.
On 9 May 2015, the ship left the port of [[Augusta, Sicily]], for a four-month [[Search and rescue|SAR]] campaign in the Mediterranean.<ref name="BO-Interview"/> On 6 August, more than 613 people were saved. Together with the second ship of MOAS, the motor yacht {{ship||Phoenix|yacht|2}}, a refugee boat was saved from capsizing by convincing those occupants who could swim to jump into the water and hold on to inflatable [[life buoy]]s. The refugees came, among others, from Syria, Eritrea and Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/mittelmeer-mehr-als-600-fluechtlinge-von-sinkendem-schiff-gerettet-a-1047104.html |title=Mittelmeer: Mehr als 600 Menschen aus Seenot gerettet |language=German |trans-title=Mediterranean Sea: More than 600 people rescued from distress at sea |work=Spiegel-Online |date=7 August 2015 |access-date=8 June 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810020527/http://www.spiegel.de:80/politik/ausland/mittelmeer-mehr-als-600-fluechtlinge-von-sinkendem-schiff-gerettet-a-1047104.html |archive-date=2015-08-10 }}</ref>
On 17 August 2016, an unknown ship fired several shots in the direction of the ''Bourbon Argos'', which was located around {{convert|25|nmi|lk=in}} off the [[Libya]]n coast. The MSF staff claimed that the ship was hit in the area of the [[Bridge (nautical)|bridge]] and that they then withdrew to the ship's shelter while strangers searched the ship.<ref>{{cite web |first=Patrick |last=Kingsley |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/25/msf-mediterranean-bourbon-argos-armed-raid-libya-coast |title=Mediterranean rescue boat hit in armed raid off Libyan coast |work=The Guardian |date=25 August 2016 |access-date=8 June 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825142632/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/25/msf-mediterranean-bourbon-argos-armed-raid-libya-coast |archive-date=2016-08-25 }}</ref> A [[Libyan Coast Guard]] commander later stated that warning shots were fired when the ''Bourbon Argos'' failed to comply with a request to identify themselves.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Patrick |last1=Kingsley |first2=Chris |last2=Stephen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/28/libyan-navy-admits-confrontation-charity-rescue-boat-msf |title=Libyan navy admits confrontation with charity's rescue boat |work=The Guardian |date=28 August 2016 |access-date=8 June 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828202916/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/28/libyan-navy-admits-confrontation-charity-rescue-boat-msf |archive-date=2016-08-28 }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.bourbonoffshore.com/sites/default/files/documents-associes/pdf/ahts-120t-bourbon-argos.pdf Data sheet of the ship], Bourbon Offshore (PDF file, 1.8 MB)
[[Category:Sea rescue organizations]] [[Category:European migrant crisis]] [[Category:Immigrant rights activism]] [[Category:Humanitarian aid organizations in Europe]] [[Category:Refugee aid organizations in Europe]]