Italy seizes rescue vessel

Italian prosecutors have ordered the seizure of the rescue vessel of the Spanish humanitarian organisation Proactiva Open Arms, which conducts migrant search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean sea.

A court in Sicily ordered the seizure of the ship pending preliminary investigations to look in to the events leading to its arrival in the Sicilian port of Pozallo on 17 March. It was carrying 218 rescued migrants
On 15 March, Open Arms rescued the migrants in an operation contested by the Libyan coastguard on grounds it was conducted in its area of competence.

According to Proactiva, a Libyan patrol boat arrived during the rescue and ordered the crew of Open Arms to hand over the migrants. When the rescue ship refused to comply with their demands, the Libyans pulled out their weapons and threatened to open fire.
Proactiva Open Arms director, Oscar Camps told reporters that their priority is to save lives. “Today rescues have become criminal offense,” he said.

The case highlights an increasingly tense stand-off between rescue organisations seeking to save lives on the open seas and authorities across Europe trying to stop people from making the dangerous crossing in the first place.
The Sicilian court impounded the boat on suspicion that members of its crew had violated international agreements on handling migrants and helped illegal migration into Europe.

The Libyans claim the humanitarian rescue vessel was operating in a zone controlled by Libya according to an international agreement, however, Proactiva lawyer Rosa Emanuela Lo Faro said that Open Arms was unaware of any such international agreement.

There are also accusations from prosecutors in Catania, Sicily that the ship violated the rules by deliberately failing to send a request to the Spanish authorities to dock in Italy and continued north so it could land in Italy.

The captain, the on-board coordinator and the director of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) have been placed under investigation for alleged criminal association for illegal immigration purposes.

Proactiva claims its actions were exclusively dictated by the need to save lives endangered at sea.

Photo credit: ANSA