MV Vittoria – Final Voyage to Beirut
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During the 34-day conflict in Lebanon, humanitarian access to the country was rendered extremely difficult by the Israeli blockade and bomb damage along the northern routes from Syria. In response to the need for humanitarian workers to enter the country, and as a fallback solution in the case of staff evacuation, a catamaran, the Vittoria M, was chartered on behalf of the Logistics Cluster to provide a passenger service between Cyprus and Beirut.
The Vittoria M (length: 41M) had a capacity of 300 passengers, which was essential should aid workers have to be evacuated during the emergency. She was chosen because she has a speed of up to 32 knots and therefore could make the trip in 4.5 hours instead of the eight or ten it would take a normal ship.
With the ceasefire now in place and repairs to the airport allowing commercial flights to recommence, the need for this vessel has diminished considerably. The Vittoria M therefore made her final sailing on Monday, September 4th. Her last two trips from Larnaca to Beirut were unusual in that they carried 48 displaced Lebanese nationals returning home, half of whom were children, alongside the usual numbers of UN and NGO staff. These assisted repatriations were performed at the request of the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNHCR.
The atmosphere in the waiting room before departure was calm, with both aid workers and repatriates simply looking tired because of the early hour. On the boat, some slept and others chatted, while the children played in the aisles or amidst the piles of luggage containing all these families had taken with them when they evacuated from Beirut. However, this atmosphere of calm expectation changed as the long five-hour voyage from Cyprus neared its end and the coastline of Lebanon finally appeared on the horizon.
This is when the excitement in the air became palpable, with all eyes fixed on the city's skyline in the distance. Children forgot their playmates and glued their hands to the windows to get a glimpse of home, and as Beirut port came into view, they were joined by the adults. Suddenly people started waving as the small crowd of friends and family waiting at the dock came into view. The scene as the ship finally berthed was one of unabated joy, with children throwing themselves into the arms of their awaiting loved ones. No distinct words could be heard in the general commotion, but the sentiment was clear: "Home, sweet home".
The Vittoria M has now ended her service to the Lebanon operation: her purpose of ferrying aid workers to and from Cyprus is no longer a necessity. A total of 265 people used the service over six return trips, most of whom were key humanitarian staff working to assist all those affected by the conflict in Lebanon. But her last two voyages remain marked by the repatriation of these families who could finally return to start rebuilding their disrupted lives.
Activities : Sea
Type of document : Report
Country : LB LBN 422 Lebanon, Lebanese Republic
Publication date 2006-Sep-08
