MARE JONIO

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Latest news

NGO ship detained after rescue of 58 migrants

On Oct 13, the 'Mare Jonio' rescued 58 migrants, who was departed from Libya and had been drifting in the sea for over 22 hours in the Mediterranea. The NGO ship refused Naples, which was four sailing days away, as a safe port. After seven hours waiting, and while the ship was already in the waters of Lampedusa, the master Filippo Peralta refused the destination, explaining that there were exhausted people on board. Then two patrol boats headed towards the humanitarian vessel with orders to escort it to Naples. But the master disobeyed, even resisting the attempt to impose a new route. In the end, on Oct 14 after 10:30 p.m.), after a tense radio confrontation, the MRCC in Rome gave the green light to dock in Porto Empedocle. The patrol boats then returned to Lampedusa and the 'Mare Jonio' headed towards the port of Agrigento, where it arrived on the morning of Oct 15. On the afternoon the captain had to appear at the Coast Guard. The ship, which was inspected immediately after docking, has been banned from sailing for 20 days for the violation of the Piantedosi decree which regulates the management of rescues at sea, including the indications relating to the safe port. Report with photos: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2024-10/dramatic-rescue-in-mediterranean-58-migrants-critial-condition.html

NGO ship detained in Trapani

The 'Mare Jonio' of the Bologna-based NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans has been placed under administrative detention following checks carried out Sep 17 by inspectors from the Harbour Office in Trapani, where the vessel was moored. "We are in a state of detention and we have an order, issued by the Ministry of Transport, to disembark, immediately, the rescue assets, under penalty of losing our certificate of seaworthiness," said mission head Luca Casarini in Trapani.

NGO ship participated in rescue of 182 migrants

The "Mare Jonio" has participated in the rescue of 182 migrants between the evening of Aug 24 and the morning of Aug 25, who were attempting the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean. It was the 18th operation of this type carried out by Mediterranean Saving Humans, an Italian civil society organization, but the first to be carried out in partnership with the Migrantes Foundation of the Italian bishops. On Aug 24 at 6 p.m., the 'Mare Jonio' spotted a wooden boat in international waters, about 35 miles off the Tunisian coast. The ’ position was reported to the Italian Coast Guard, while the crew of the 'Mare Jonio' distributed life jackets to all the occupants, as the makeshift boat appeared very unstable. The Italian Coast Guard arrived shortly after and transported its occupants - 67 in total, all of North African origin - to safety on the island of Lampedusa. All were of North African origin, including 16 women and many children Also on Aug 24, at 11.30 pm, the ship, after receiving a warning, sighted an overloaded inflatable boat. After taking the occupants on board, the 'Mare Jonio' transferred them to the Italian Coast guard vessel. In this case, 50 people were rescued, mostly children and women, almost all of Ethiopian nationality. The last rescue took place on Aug 25 at 6.30 am, while the ship was sailing south. More than 60 people were rescued, including Syrians, Bengalis and Pakistanis, who were brought to safety, following instructions from the Italian government, in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo.