On January 18, 2018 the Aquarius safely disembarks 505 people in the port of Catania, Sicily. On the evening of January 15 and into the morning of January 16, the Aquarius rescued over 400 people - the youngest just 2 weeks old –from 5 different boats. During the rescue of the third boat around 10 people fell into the sea. They were all recovered by the rescue team. The Italian Coast Guard coordinated a total of 11 operations in the area on the same day, with over 1,400 people.
On the evening of January 16 the Aquarius took a further 67 women and men onboard who were rescued earlier that day by a Spanish military ship.