Italian authorities seize two more rescue ships, demand €13,333 fine

Shortly after seizing Aurora rescue ship detained for 20 days, Italian authorities have reportedly detained additional two rescue ships.

The detained ships are OpenArms and SeaEye4.

They are to pay fines of €10,000 and €3333 respectively.

Seebrüecke International disclosed this in a tweet.

The tweet reads: “After the #Aurora of the NGOs @seawatch_intl was detained for 20 days at the beginning of the week, two civilian sea rescue ships were detained today. The #OpenArms was detained in #Carrara today and, in addition to the detention, is to pay a fine of 10,000 €.”

Seebrüecke International said this all comes after the disembarkation of 195 people in the port of #Carrara, who were rescued from distress at sea by the #OpenArms in 3 rescue operations.”

The second rescue ship, #SeaEye4, according to Seebrüecke International was also detained today for 20 days after disembarking 114 survivors, and a €3333 fine is also to be paid.
Because of these blockades, Seebrüecke International regretted that there are now three ships inoperable that could rescue people from distress in the Mediterranean – “while this year more than 2,200 people have already died or gone missing on Mediterranean routes due to European policies of closure.”
The German organisation alleged that the Italian government actively endangers people on the move with its policy against civil sea rescue, “while the rest of the EU member states remain inactive!
As long as there are neither a European sea rescue mission nor safe passages every civil rescue ship is urgently needed in the Mediterranean! We demand the immediate release of the #OpenArms, #SeaEye4 and the #Aurora! #FreeTheShips.”