While it waited for its own safe harbor, Ocean Viking celebrated the news of Open Arms’s docking by drawing a heart in the sea. Data from the vessel’s route tracker show that between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. local time, the ship completed a heart-shaped route in the middle of the Mediterranean.

Image for article titled A stranded migrant rescue ship used its route to send a secret message to the world
Image: Screen shot via Vessel Finder
a hear-shaped ship route
Image: Screen shot via Vessel Finder

Despite the joyous message, the situation on board Ocean Viking is deteriorating. And the Italian government, which is facing its own crisis, has so far refused to provide a safe place for the migrants and refugees to disembark.

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