Open Arms heads to the Canary Islands, sparking talk of a busy September

The ship that will stop in Tenerife could be positioned south of the islands for possible rescues

A vessel of Open Arms, the tugboat Open Arms—formerly a maritime rescue ship and donated to the NGO by the Ibaizabal Group—is sailing toward the islands as part of its mission to rescue people and raise awareness about the migration phenomenon.

Activists will make a stop in Tenerife, and it is being speculated that they could position themselves south of the archipelago for the season of anticyclonic calms that surrounds this part of the world during September‑October, a period that favors the arrival of migrants.

Activists cannot replace the governmental maritime security agencies, such as Spain’s Maritime Rescue service, which fully complies with international regulations in both equipment and training, but they can help highlight the problem and provide targeted assistance during a possible surge.