Watch The Med Alarm Phone Report – 15th of December 2014

Case name: 2014_12_15-CM3
Situation: Refugee vessel in distress in Libyan waters
Status of WTM Investigation: Ongoing (Last update: 15th of December 2014)
Time and Place of Incident: 15th of December 2014, Central Mediterranean Sea, Libyan waters

Summary of the Case:On the 15th of December 2014, approximately 150 refugees mainly from Syria were on a vessel in distress in the Libyan Search and Rescue (SAR) zone and launched a call from their satellite phone. They reached Father Mussie Zerai who informed both the Italian rescue services and the Watch The Med Alarm Phone. An Arabic speaking member of the Alarm Phone’s shift team began to exchange information with the passengers on the vessel in distress and was able to receive GPS data through which the position of the vessel could be located. The information was passed on to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Rome and the MRCC Malta. The refugee vessel was unable to stop and had to keep moving due to strong waves and it was hence difficult to track their exact location. After several further exchanges between the shift team and the refugees as well as the MRCC Rome, the Italian authorities confirmed that they would coordinate a rescue operation. Later on the shift team received the confirmation from the MRCC Rome that the refugees were rescued and on board of a merchant vessel that would bring them to Italy.

This case clearly suggests that if Italy had followed Frontex’ demand to not conduct rescue operations beyond the 30 mile zone, the refugees in distress in the Libyan SAR zone would not have been rescued.