RIB Pontoons for actions in Chios
RIB Pontoons for Search & Rescue in Chios
In 2016, most NGOs operating around Chios were doing vital work — but on land. At sea, at night, people were dying unseen. SWB ran a crowdfunding campaign to put proper rescue vessels in the water, operated by trained local rescuers. At €7,000 per boat, donors made it possible to purchase RIB pontoons that were used for search and rescue operations for years.
The Problem
Following the EU-Turkey agreement of 2016, sea crossings between Turkey and Greece declined significantly — but did not stop. According to UNHCR data from that period, an average of 59 people per day were still arriving on Greek shores in May 2016, most of them aboard overloaded, low-quality inflatable dinghies at high risk of capsizing.
The NGOs operating around Chios were experienced and professional, but almost all of them worked on land. That left a critical gap on the water — particularly at night. Silent deaths, as rescuers called them, were a known and ongoing reality: boats sinking in darkness, with no one positioned to see them and respond. One such incident occurred near the northern coast of Samos, approximately 20 nautical miles from SWB’s patrol area.
The Solution
SWB’s sea operations around Chios relied primarily on chartered sailing vessels — well-suited to the work, but expensive. As the summer sailing season began, charter prices rose to €3,500 per week, reducing the number of boats we could keep on the water.
The calculation was straightforward: for the price of a two-week charter of one vessel, we could purchase a rescue RIB outright and use it for years. We identified a few well-maintained pontoons, among them the first: a 12-person RIB in Greece, complete with an engine and trailer, already registered, for €7,000 including tax. Our team included experienced rescuers from Chios who had received specialist training with the RNLI.
The Campaign
SWB launched a crowdfunding campaign to purchase RIB pontoons for search-and-rescue operations in Chios. The campaign reached its goal through private donations. We are grateful to everyone who contributed — the vessels purchased went directly into operational use and enabled rescues that would not otherwise have been possible.
The photos below show one of the RIB pontoons purchased through this campaign.
