What was the name of the rescue vessel funded by Banksy in 2020?

The rescue vessel funded by Banksy in 2020 was named Louise Michel.

The ship was a former French Navy vessel painted bright pink and marked with a large image of a girl holding a heart-shaped life preserver. Banksy privately funded the project, while the vessel was operated by a European crew with experience in search-and-rescue work. It was named after Louise Michel, a French anarchist, educator, and participant in the Paris Commune.

Louise Michel began operating in the Mediterranean Sea in August 2020. Its mission was to assist people in distress during crossings from North Africa toward Europe and to bring survivors to safety. The project became public after the vessel requested help from the Italian coast guard following a rescue operation.

The ship is sometimes mistaken for established humanitarian vessels such as Sea-Watch 3 or Ocean Viking. Those vessels belong to different organizations. Louise Michel is specifically associated with Banksy’s privately funded rescue initiative.