Charity says Mediterranean rescue mission blocked after ship seizure in Italy

In a press launch Sunday, the group referred to as for the “swift launch” of its search and rescue vessel “Geo Barents,” which was detained by authorities on administrative grounds within the port of Augusta, Sicily, on July 2.

In line with the Italian Coast Guard, the seizure was the results of a “periodic inspection” required for overseas ships docking in Italian ports, which “highlighted varied technical irregularities that would compromise the protection of the crew and of the folks on board.”

The ship didn’t have a adequate quantity of life saving gear on board, akin to rafts and life belts, the Coast Guard assertion stated. Throughout a 14-hour inspection of the vessel, officers discovered 22 points general — 10 of which have been grounds for the ship to be detained, it additionally stated.

MSF has stated that it’s “able to make all the mandatory changes.” Nevertheless, MSF’s search and rescue consultant, Duccio Staderini, additionally claimed that inspections of NGO vessels in Italian ports are “lengthy and thorough, aiming at discovering irregularities to be able to forestall the ship from returning to sea to save lots of lives.

Reporting contributed by Livia Borghese and Caitlin Hu.