ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION – Italy Demands That Countries Whose Flag Is Flown By Rescue Boats Bear The Responsibility Of Migrants Aboard – November 2022.
A row escalated on Friday 4th November over who should take care of migrants rescued by NGO’s rescue vessels offshore Italy, with Italy insisting that countries whose flag was flown by the vessels should bear some of the responsibility and Norway disagreeing. 3 NGO rescue vessels holding almost 1,000 migrants have been at sea offshore […]
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION – Libyan Coast Guard threatens NGO Seawatch aircraft – 26.10.2022
On Wednesday 26th October, 2022 the Libyan coastguard vessel 658 FEZZAN threatened to shoot down an aircraft belonging to an NGO in international waters and Malta has no jurisdiction on the area where the incident happened. On Thursday, Sea-Watch shared footage showing the Libyan Coast Guard radio officer saying “get away from Libyan territory otherwise […]
Law Enforcement – Guardia di Finanza Corrubia III Class G 114 PULEO
The GUARDIA di FINANZA is an Italian law enforcement agency under the authority of the Minister of Economy and Finance. It is a militarized police force, forming a part of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, not the Ministry of Defence. Guardia di Finanza is essentially responsible for dealing with financial crime and smuggling; it has also evolved into Italy’s […]
Casualties – Turkish Cargo Ship GOKBEL sinks – 28.12.2014
On the morning of Sunday 28th December, 2014 around 0830 hrs the 2011 built Turkish general cargo ship GOKBEL with 11 crew collided with the 1991 built general cargo ship LADY AZIZA and sank in poor visibility just a mile from the Italian Adriatic port of Ravenna. Guardia Costiera (Italian Coast Guard) Capitano Di Vascello […]
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION – 265 rescued souls brought to Porto Empedocle, Sicily by OPEN ARMS – 04.01.2021
On Monday 4th January, 2021 the converted tugboat now a rescue ship OPEN ARMS with 265 rescued souls arrived off Porto Empedocle, Sicily after Italy assigned the landing port as safe. They were rescued by the 1974 built vessel OPEN ARMS in international waters on December 31st, 2020 and last Saturday 2nd January, 2021 are […]
Fishing – Italian stern trawlers ANTARTIDE and MEDINEA released from Libya – 17.12.2020
On Thursday 17th December, 2020 the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte together with Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio visited LNA General Commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar including visit to the Libya National Army Headquaters in Ar Rajmah , East of Libya which is located 27 km east of Benghazi. One of the most important issues […]
Virtu Ferries – COVID-19 Restrictions from the Italian Government – November 2020
As from Friday 6th November, 2020 until further notice the Italian Government will temporarily place Sicily in the Orange Zone meaning that travelling between regions and cities is prohibited, unless motivated by proven work needs, needs , study or teaching in the presence. All Food & Beverage except canteens and catering are suspended. The National […]
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION – SEA-WATCH 4 immigrants bound to Palermo – 01.09.2020
On Wednesday 2nd September the 353 illegal immigrants rescued by the German NGO ship, SEA-WATCH 4 were transferred to the 1987 built ropax GNV ALLEGRA off Palermo, Sicily for quarantine. 11 days after the first souls onboard the SEA-WATCH 4 were rescued, all 353 survivors on the vessel jointly operated by United4Rescue, Sea-Watch, and Doctors […]
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION – 180 rescued migrants quarantined on board ropax off Palermo – 19.04.2020
Italy has refused to take in saved migrants due to the coronavirus pandemic disease, saying that the outbreak has killed over 23,000 people, meant it could no longer be considered a port of safety. 34 migrants rescued by Spanish NGO rescue vessel AITA MARI were transferred on Sunday to the 180 metre ropax RAFFAELE RUBATTINO […]
Cruise Liner News – MSC GRANDIOSA denied entry to Malta – 10.03.2020
The 2019 built cruise liner MSC GRANDIOSA was denied entry to Valletta, Malta on Tuesday 10th March, 2020 with over 2,500 aboard with her last port of call was Palermo, Sicily. Image below is at 0031 hrs. The decision was clarified by the Maltese Government with Prime Minister Dr. Robert Abela during an extraordinary news conference […]
