The NGO ship Open Arms, carrying 57 migrants, was ordered to be detained for 20 days in Crotone, Calabria, for allegedly interfering with a Libyan patrol boat during rescue operations.
The NGO boat “Open Arms” carrying 57 migrants has been ordered to be held in administrative detention for 20 days in Crotone, Calabria, on suspicion of interfering with a Libyan patrol boat during a rescue operation.
The charges accuse Open Arms of ignoring instructions from the Maritime Rescue National Coordination Center. According to the Piantedosi Decree regulating NGO intervention, the fine could be up to 10,000 euros.
After three separate rescue operations, the ship was originally scheduled to proceed to Brindisi, but due to sea weather conditions it turned to Crotone. She arrived in Crotone on Saturday, January 20th. After the rescue operation in the Mediterranean Sea, a detention order was issued following verification procedures by the State Police, Coast Guard and Treasury Security Guard.
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Authorities interrogated the captain and crew for six hours in Crotone regarding violations of the Piantedosi Act. In particular, Italian authorities received a notification from Libya that Open Arms obstructed a patrol boat during a rescue operation for 45 people on a boat in Libyan Special Administrative Region (Search and Rescue) waters, and this operation is prohibited. Ta. According to the National Maritime Rescue Center. 45 people were taken to Libyan naval units.
Last December, German NGO Humanity 1 was detained at the Port of Crotone on suspicion of violating the Piante Dosi Act.
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Open your arms and say, “This step is completely unnecessary.”
Spanish NGO Open Arms disputed the charges, insisting it had complied with all instructions from the Maritime Coordination Center in Rome. “This step is completely unnecessary as the three rescue operations were coordinated by the Italian authorities and we followed all instructions received from the Maritime Coordination Center,” Open Arms said in a statement.
NGO founder Oscar Camps criticized the lack of a clear legal framework for humanitarian vessels. “The rule of law at sea has been suspended and humanitarian vessels are operating without a clear legal framework,” Camps said in a video posted. It is impossible to guarantee that.” on social media.