After Rescuing 65 People: SEA-EYE 5 Unlawfully Detained in Sicily

The civil rescue ship SEA-EYE 5, operated by the Germany-based search and rescue organization Sea-Eye, was detained by Italian authorities in the port of Pozzallo on Monday, June 16, 2025.

The detention followed a rescue operation on Saturday, June 14, during which the crew of SEA-EYE 5 saved a total of 65 people from an overcrowded rubber boat in acute distress in the Central Mediterranean — among them many women and several seriously injured individuals. 

“This detention is a politically motivated act and a serious attack on civil sea rescue. The underlying strategy: small rescue vessels are expected to fulfill demands that are not compatible with safety standards — and those who refuse to risk human lives are punished,” says Gorden Isler, Chairman of Sea-Eye e.V.

Sea-Eye Faces Three Accusations:

Disregard of MRCC Rome Instructions:
The captain allegedly failed to fully communicate information and refused the selective transfer of individuals to the Coast Guard. The captain argued that all people on board were in need of protection.

Delayed Request for Disembarkation:
SEA-EYE 5 is accused of not “officially and promptly” requesting a port of disembarkation. In reality, Sea-Eye had been in active contact with several rescue coordination centers, including those in Bremen and Rome, from the outset of the operation. All communication was documented in writing.

Delayed Departure to Taranto:
SEA-EYE 5 allegedly did not proceed “without delay” to Taranto after it was assigned and instead waited over six hours off the coast of Pozzallo. However, Pozzallo had been officially designated as the Port of Safety. The delay was due to the MRCC in Rome canceling the planned disembarkation, argues Sea-Eye. From Sea-Eye’s perspective, the transshipment demands and further travel instructions were incompatible with the safety situation on board and the ship’s technical limitations.

Sea-Eye Strongly Rejects the Accusations

“These accusations are fabricated to criminalize rescue operations. Our crew has always acted in the best interests of those rescued and in accordance with international maritime law. The detention once again shows that Italian authorities are systematically trying to push civil rescue ships out of the Mediterranean,” explains Isler. 

Sea-Eye has announced it will take legal action against the detention. The organization views this measure as a continuation of Italy’s repressive port policy, which previously drew international criticism in the case of the civil rescue vessel NADIR.

Background: Dispute Over Port of Disembarkation

After the rescue, the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Rome initially assigned the port of Taranto — 390 nautical miles away — as a Port of Safety, despite this distance being incompatible with the ship’s technical capabilities and insufficient water supplies for such a long journey with so many people on board. Only after intense pressure, strong appeals referencing international maritime law, and persistent argumentation did the MRCC in Rome relent overnight and assign the closer port of Pozzallo in Sicily.

On Sunday at approximately 2:00 PM, the SEA-EYE 5 finally reached Pozzallo. Upon arrival, the crew was informed that instead of a full disembarkation, only a so-called transshipment would be permitted. The crew was instructed to identify vulnerable individuals and transfer them to an Italian Coast Guard patrol vessel. The remaining rescued individuals were expected to stay on board and be transported to Taranto in Apulia.

During the hours-long negotiations, the crew had to request another medical evacuation, as the condition of a pregnant woman continued to deteriorate. A medical evacuation had already been approved the previous day for three severely injured individuals, who were transferred to the Italian Coast Guard. At 8:30 PM, the crew received official permission to enter the port and disembark the rescued individuals. At the same time, the medical evacuation request was approved, allowing the pregnant woman to be brought ashore with a family member and receive medical care before the ship docked.

After the remaining 60 people were safely disembarked, Italian authorities initially placed SEA-EYE 5 under quarantine. On Monday evening, at around 6:30 PM, the vessel was officially detained — the first such detention for the ship since Sea-Eye began operating it in December 2024.