Either way, migrants rescue is becoming extremely dangerous for merchant ships

Posted in Maritime Security by Mikhail Voytenko 

 May 27, 2020 at 18:07.

Container ship ANNE on May 25 had to take on board some 100 illegal migrants off Libyan coast, while being en route from Malta’s Freeport to Misurata Libya. The ship interrupted her voyage and took a long leg, to pick them up.

She reached Misurata anchorage on May 25, migrants reportedly, were offloaded and handed over to Libyan authorities. ANNE was berthed in Misurata on May 27.

ANNE was ordered to rescue migrants by MRCC Malta, according to NGO Alarm Phone. After that, ANNE was ordered by responsible SAR bodies to proceed to Misurata, and disembark “rescued” migrants. 

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees recommends that all countries “suspend all forced returns of citizens or residents of Libya, including those whose application for asylum was rejected”(!).

So, now what? They will force merchant ships to pick up migrants notwithstanding circumstances, and after that, circle around in Mediterranean for days and weeks, begging EU to take migrants off?

Rescuing migrants is becoming extremely dangerous for merchant ships. If the ship “rescues” migrants and waits to be allowed to disembark them where they want to be disembarked, in the EU, the ship is in for many troubles and risks, read previous stories. If the ship disembarks them in Libya, Master and owner may be prosecuted.

FleetMon Vessel Risk Rating: https://www.fleetmon.com/services/vessel-risk-rating/