Illegal Immigration – Sea Watch wins appeal against an Italian civil court – December 2019

/ Aerial Photography, Bezzina Ship Repair Yard, BSRY, Catania, Central Mediterranean, Civil Court, Confiscation, Illegal Immigration, Licata, Malta, Mediterranean Sea, MSPAP, NGO, Palermo, Political, rescue, Rescue Vessel, Sea Watch, Sicilia, Sicily / By

Berthed at Licata, Sicily since 2nd July 2019 the German non governmental organisation (NGO) is preparing to resume the Central Mediterranean rescue operation as quickly as possible.

The Civil Court of Palermo has decided that the SEA-WATCH 3 is free against the illegal confiscation of the ship. NGO Sea Watch confirmed not only the lack of legal basis for assessing the ship, but the political motivation behind it.

Berthed at Catania, Sicily back to 4th February, 2019.

From December 5th the SEA-WATCH 3 is registered under the German flag. Consequently, the ship no longer sails under the Dutch flag, and awaits further permission to actually leave port in Sicily. Sea Watch is compelled to make this switch due to a lack of confidence that the Netherlands, as a flag state, is doing enough to keep the SEA-WATCH 3 operational.

Moored at Bezzina Ship Repair Yard, Malta on 18th April, 2018.

Photos by Capt. Lawrence Dalli. Do not use these images without my permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com

Published – Saturday 21st December 2019