Migrant rescue ship Ocean Viking (IMO 8506854) set
sail from Ravenna, Italy, on January 2nd, after disembarking
migrants at the port. The vessel had been directed to go to the port in
north-western Italy, rather than a normal call in other southern Italy or
Sicily. Rescue organizations claim that the direction was part of a deliberate
policy by the new Italian administration to make the disembarkation of migrants
rescued in the Mediterranean Sea as difficult as possible without breaking
international agreements or laws.
Ocean Viking was expected to reach the international
waters of the central Mediterranean by January 6th. The other rescue ships
operating in the region were currently at different ports in Italy and Spain
Meanwhile, during the morning of January 4th the Geo Barents (IMO 9252503) arrived at the SPG Levante berth in Taranto, southern
Italy, with 85 migrants on board. The Geo Barents was the first to have carried
out a rescue in accordance with the new rules.
The new code of conduct provides, in the event of
violation of one of its rules, fines of up to €50,000 and the confiscation of
the vessel.
The NGOs have claimed that the new rules will
“inevitably” lead to a greater number of migrant deaths.
The Italian government had assigned Ravenna to the Ocean
Viking despite the fact that it was more than 900nm from the rescue zone, a
distance that took two days to cover. The NGO said that the new rules would
slow its ability to rescue migrants in the central Mediterranean. The Italian
government of Giorgia Meloni claims that the actions of the NGOs with rescue
ships in the Mediterranean served to encourage both irregular immigration and
the traffickers making money from the migrants.
The decree does not prevent the disembarkation of
immigrants in Italy, but it does make it more complicated, forcing NGO ships to
accept the port assigned to them by the Italian government, The rescuing ships
are also now required to inform the emigrants that they can seek asylum in any
European country, not just Italy.
1986-built, Norway-flagged, 2,306 gt Ocean Viking is
owned by SAR Offshore AS care of manager Hoyland Offshore AS of Steinsland,
Norway. It is entered with Skuld (Skuld Energy division) on behalf of Hoyland
Offshore AS. As of January 5th the vessel was in the Ionian Sea,
having left Ravenna on January 2nd.
2007-built, Norway-flagged, 4,979 gt Geo Barents is owned
by Uksnøy Barents care of manager Uksnøy & Co AS of Aaleslund, Norway. It
is entered with Gard P&I on behalf of Uksnøy Barents KS. As of January 5th the vessel was in the Ionian Sea, having left Taranto on January 4th.
