Phoenix (1973)

{{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image= |image_caption= }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country= |flag= |name=''GC Bassin'' |namesake= |owner= |operator= |registry= |route= |ordered= |awarded= |builder=[[Davie Shipbuilding]], [[Lauzon, Quebec|Lauzon]]<ref name=SS/> |original_cost= |yard_number= |way_number= |laid_down= |launched=1973<ref name=MT/> |sponsor= |christened= |completed= |acquired= |commissioned= |recommissioned= |decommissioned= |maiden_voyage= |in_service= |out_of_service= |renamed= |reclassified= |refit= |struck= |reinstated= |homeport= |identification= |motto= |nickname= |honours= |honors= |captured= |fate= |status= |notes= |badge= }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country= |flag= |name=''NSS Pattam'' |namesake= |owner= |operator= |registry= |route= |acquired=2002 |commissioned= |recommissioned= |decommissioned= |maiden_voyage= |in_service= |out_of_service= |renamed= |reclassified= |refit= |struck= |reinstated= |homeport= |identification= |motto= |nickname= |honours= |honors= |captured= |fate= |status= |notes= |badge= }}

|section4={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country= |flag= |name=''Phoenix'', ''Phoenix 1'' |namesake= |owner=Phoenix Charters, Indianapolis, IN, US<ref name=SS/> |operator= |registry={{flag|Belize|civil}} |route= |ordered= |acquired=2007 |commissioned= |recommissioned= |decommissioned= |maiden_voyage= |in_service= |out_of_service= |renamed= |reclassified= |refit= |struck= |reinstated= |homeport= |identification=*{{IMO|7234272}}<ref name=MT>{{cite web |title=Phoenix - Yacht |url=http://www.marinetraffic.com/hr/ais/details/ships/312204000 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141105225515/http://www.marinetraffic.com/hr/ais/details/ships/312204000|url-status=dead |archive-date=5 November 2014 |website=www.marinetraffic.com |access-date=5 November 2014}}</ref> *{{MMSI|312204000}}<ref name=MT/> *Call sign: V3RI6<ref name=MT/> |motto= |nickname= |honours= |honors= |captured= |fate= |status={{ship in active service}}<ref name=MT/> |notes= |badge= }}

|section5={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class= |type= |tonnage=*{{GT|483}}<ref name=MT/> *{{DWT|396}}<ref name=MT/> |displacement= |length={{convert|39.9|m|ft}}<ref name=MT/> |beam={{convert|9.4|m|ft}}<ref name=MT/> |height= |draught={{convert|4.6|m|ft}}<ref name=SS/> |draft= |depth= |hold_depth= |decks= |deck_clearance= |ramps= |ice_class= |power= |propulsion= |sail_plan= |speed= |range= |boats= |capacity= |crew=16<ref name=BBC1/> |aircraft=2 [[Schiebel Camcopter S-100]]s<ref name=BBC1/> |aircraft_facilities= |notes= }} }} The '''''Phoenix''''' is a ship built by [[Davie Shipbuilding]] in [[Lévis, Quebec]] and [[ceremonial ship launching|launched]] as the [[fishing trawler|trawler]] ''GC Bassin ''in 1973. Since then, her roles have included a [[research vessel]] and a [[training ship]], before her current use by the [[Migrant Offshore Aid Station]] as a [[Lifeboat (rescue)|rescue vessel]], rescuing people in distress at the [[Mediterranean Sea]].

==Background== The ''Phoenix'' was built by [[Davie Shipbuilding]] in [[Lévis, Quebec]] and launched as the [[fishing trawler|trawler]] ''GC Bassin'' in 1973. Subsequently, she was given to [[Gorton's of Gloucester|Gorden-Pew]] fisheries.<ref name=SS>{{cite web |title=PHOENIX 1 - IMO 7234272 |url=http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2099056|website=www.shipspotting.com|access-date=5 November 2014}}</ref><ref name=Geist>{{cite book |last1=Geistdoerfer|first1=Aliette |title=Pêcheurs acadiens, pêcheurs madelinots: ethnologie d'une communauté de pêcheurs |trans-title=Acadian fishermen, Magdalen Island fishermen: ethnology of a fishing community |language=French |date=1987 |publisher=[[Laval University#Book publishing |Presses Université Laval]]|page=319}}</ref> In 2002, she was renamed as NSS'' Pattam'', before being given her current name in 2007.<ref name=SS/> She has been previously used as a [[research vessel]] and [[training ship]], before her current use as a [[Lifeboat (rescue)|rescue vessel]].<ref name=BBC1/>

==Migrant Offshore Aid Station== {{Main|Migrant Offshore Aid Station}} On 25 August 2014, the [[NGO]] [[Migrant Offshore Aid Station]] (MOAS) launched the ''Phoenix'' as a support vessel to aid vessels in distress in the [[Mediterranean Sea]].<ref name=BBC1>{{cite news |last1=Cacciottolo|first1=Mario |title=The millionaires who rescue people at sea|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28953237|access-date=11 November 2014|agency=[[BBC]]|date=29 August 2014}}</ref><ref name=MishMOAS>{{cite web |title=Our Mission |url=http://www.moas.eu/ourmission.html|website=www.moas.eu|access-date=11 November 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107163958/http://www.moas.eu/ourmission.html|archivedate=7 November 2014}}</ref> Her inaugural mission continued until October 2014.<ref name=MaltaT1>{{cite news |last1=Vassallo|first1=Raphael |title=No one deserves to die at sea {{!}} Martin Xuereb|url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/interview/41131/watch_no_one_deserves_to_die_at_sea#.VGHxJclAmsN|access-date=11 November 2014|work=[[Malta Today]]|publisher=MediaToday Co. Ltd}}</ref>

The ''Phoenix'' is based in [[Malta]] and funded by Christopher and Regina Catrambone, who were inspired by an appeal from [[Pope Francis]] and the [[2013 Lampedusa migrant shipwreck|Lampedusa shipwrecks]] in October 2013.<ref name=ToM1>{{cite news|last1=Micallef|first1=Mark|title=Benefactor couple fund first ever private migrant rescue at sea mission|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140713/local/benefactor-couple-fund-first-ever-private-migrant-rescue-at-sea-mission.527413|access-date=11 November 2014|work=[[Times of Malta]]|date=23 July 2014}}</ref> She is equipped with two [[Schiebel Camcopter S-100]] [[unmanned aerial vehicles]], dinghies and other life-saving equipment together with [[paramedics]] with the aim of saving [[Immigrant|migrants]], [[refugees]] and other people in distress at sea.<ref name=BBC1/><ref name=ToM1/>

===First operation: 2014=== Her inaugural mission lasted from 25 August 2014 until October 2014.<ref name="MaltaT1"/> During her first mission, The ship responded to requests from local [[rescue coordination centres]] while cruising the Mediterranean.<ref name=ToM1/> The running cost of the first mission was {{Euro|2 million}}, the extent of the funder's budget.<ref name=BBC1/>

On 4 October 2014, while en route to [[Pozzallo]], [[Sicily]] the ''Phoenix'' rescued 106 migrants in a rubber dinghy.<ref name=ReutersWI>{{cite news|last1=Zammit Lupi|first1=Darrin|title=A rescue at sea|url=http://widerimage.reuters.com/story/a-rescue-at-sea|access-date=11 November 2014|work=widerimage.reuters.com|agency=Reuters|date=16 October 2014}}</ref>

On 19 October 2014, the ''Phoenix'' rescued 97 African migrants from [[the Gambia]], [[Senegal]], [[Guinea Bissau]], [[Niger]], [[Mali]], [[Sierra Leone]] and [[Benin]] who had been at sea for 12 hours, after receiving direction from rescue coordination centre in [[Rome]].<ref name=TVM>{{cite news |title=salvatagg iehor ta immigranti minn organizazzjoni privata |trans-title=Another rescue of immigrants by a private organization |url=http://www.tvm.com.mt/news/salvatagg-iehor-ta-immigranti-minn-organizazzjoni-privata/ |access-date=11 November 2014 |agency=[[TVM (Malta)|Television Malta]] |language=Maltese |date=19 October 2014}}</ref>

On 20 October 2014, the ''Phoenix'' rescued 274 migrants, including 200 [[Syria]]ns and [[Pakistan]]is from a 15-metre wooden boat off the coast of Italy.<ref name=TPGambia>{{cite news |last1=Collins|first1=Gail|title=Gambia: Back Way to Europe - Is It a Risk Worth Taking?|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201410231682.html|accessdate=11 November 2014|work=[[The Point (the Gambia)|The Point]] |date=23 October 2014}}</ref><ref name=ME>{{cite web |last1=Laursen|first1=Wendy |title=Desperate Migrants Pay Extra for Life Jackets |url=http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/Desperate-Migrants-Pay-Extra-for-Life-Jackets-2014-10-21 |website=www.maritime-executive.com/ |access-date=11 November 2014}}</ref>

The MOAS has helped to save 3,000 migrants during its first mission.<ref name=BBC2>{{cite news |title=The family that saved 3,000 lives |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-29883832 |access-date=16 November 2014 |work=[[BBC News Magazine Monitor]] |agency=BBC |date=10 November 2014}}</ref>

===Second operation: 2015=== The ''Phoenix'' and MOAS returned to the Mediterranean in 2015, rescuing and helping 8,581 people crossing from Libya to Italy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Central Mediterranean |url=https://www.moas.eu/central-mediterranean/ |website=MOAS |access-date=3 February 2025}}</ref>

===Third operation and beyond=== The ''Phoenix'' continued rescue operations in 2016, assisted by a second MOAS-operated ship, the ''Topaz Responder''. Together MOAS helped to rescue 19,450 people.<ref name=MOAS-CM>{{cite web |title=Central Mediterranean |url=https://www.moas.eu/central-mediterranean/ |website=MOAS |access-date=3 February 2025}}</ref> In 2017, the ''Phoenix'', assisted by a fixed-wing aircraft supported the rescue of 7,286 people.<ref name=MOAS-CM/> After August 2017, MOAS focussed its resources and the Phoenix on the [[2015 Rohingya refugee crisis|Rohingya refugee crisis]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Migrant aid group MOAS quits rescue operation in the Mediterranean |url=https://www.thelocal.it/20170905/migrant-aid-group-moas-quits-rescue-operation-in-the-mediterranean |access-date=1 October 2017 |work=The Local Italy |publisher=www.thelocal.it |date=5 September 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=A ship that saved migrants from the Mediterranean has set sail for Asia to rescue Rohingya refugees |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/rohingya-refugees-rescue-mission-mediterranean-ship-burma-bangladesh-deadly-exodus-moas-phoenix-a7930266.html |access-date=18 October 2017 |work=The Independent |publisher=www.independent.co.uk |date=5 September 2017 |language=en}}</ref> and Mediterranean operations were integrated into the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Rome.<ref name=MOAS-CM/>

==See also== *[[Cap Anamur]] *[[Martin Xuereb]]

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Ships built in Lévis]] [[Category:1973 ships]] [[Category:Ships of Belize]]