SEA-WATCH 5

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NGO ship detained for 20 days

The Italian authorities have detained the 'Sea-Watch 5' for 20 days on Sep 3, and fined up to €10,000, after having rescued 289 people on Aug 31 in four operations in international waters off Libya, after dropping them off in the port of Civitavecchia, almost 1,000 kilometres away from where the assistance request was made. Italy accused Sea-Watch of having rescued the asylum seekers at sea, without clearance from the Libyan authorities. After the Italian authorities assigned Civitavecchia as a safe port, a 17-year-old had to be medically evacuated by Maltese forces as his medical condition did not permit the long journey. The basis for the detention is the so-called Piantedosi Decree, introduced in January 2023, which deliberately attacks the work of civil rescue organisations in the Mediterranean. “The accusations made by the authorities are false: following the 1982 UNCLOS regulation, permission for the rescue is not required under international law. In addition, the state authorities in Italy, Malta and Germany were informed about the sea emergencies and rescues,” Sea-Watch 5 head of operations Chiara Milanese said. It had informed the coordination centre in Libya of the rescue, even though it does not meet necessary international standards.

NGO to file a complaint against Italian authorities for blocking rescue ships

Sea Watch has contested the seizure of the “Sea Watch 5”, which has been blocked for 20 days by the Italian authorities in the port of Pozzuolo, after disembarking 51 migrants and the body of a deceased young man. Sea Watch contested this decision and planned to challenge the measure in court, emphasizing the importance of not hindering rescue operations at sea. In addition, the Italian Supreme Court recently established jurisprudence by considering that Libya was not a safe port, thus opening the way to possible appeals by relief NGOs and calling into question the Italian government's migration policy. Also the German NGO Sea Eye has announced its intention to file a complaint against the Italian authorities for the seizure of the "Sea Eye 4" for 60 days in the port of Reggio Calabria. In recent hours, the 144 migrants rescued by the humanitarian ship in the central Mediterranean, including 20 unaccompanied minors, two babies and several families, have disembarked in this port. The first group of 84 migrants were from different countries such as Gambia, Ivory Coast, Somalia, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali, Senegal and Ghana, while the second group of 60 migrants came from Syria, Egypt, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sudan and Burkina Faso. The NGO will initiate proceedings before the competent courts, thus contesting the reason given for the blocking. According to Italian authorities, the ship interrupted a Libyan Coastguard operation, which Sea Eye categorically disputes. A boat of the so-called Coastguard arrived at high speed, while the 'Sea Eye 4' had already started to evacuate the inflatable boat in distress. Additionally,the Libyans acted recklessly by pointing their weapons at the crew of the rescue ship.

NGO ship arrested after rescue of 56 migrants

After rescuing 56 people from distress in the Mediterranean, the “Sea-Watch 5” was arrested by the Italian authorities for 20 days in Pozzalla on March 8. Italy had previously assigned the “Sea-Watch 5” to the port of Ravenna, more than 1,500 kilometers away. “The seizure of the ‘Sea-Watch 5’ is a purely political maneuver,” explained spokesman Oliver Kulikowski. “Italy seems to be using every means to distract attention from its failure to provide assistance.” Sea-Watch announced that it would challenge the decision in court. Before, a 17-year-old on board the ship, who was rescued from distress on March 6, had died. Italy, Malta and Tunisia did not initiate a medical evacuation despite requests to do so. Four other people in critical condition were only brought to the Italian mainland after nine hours.