Berlin, 25 September: Following the rescue of 20 people in international waters, the Italian authorities have detained the search and rescue vessel Sea Punk I for 15 days. In addition, a fine of 7,500 euros has been imposed. The Sea Punk I is an alliance partner of the Justice Fleet, the largest alliance of civil search and rescue organisations and civil society supporters. In total, the Italian authorities have thus blocked Justice Fleet vessels for more than 310 days since the alliance was founded in November 2025.

The detention of the Sea Punk I follows a successful rescue operation on Thursday, 10 September 2026. The crew of the Sea Punk I rescued 20 people in distress near the Bouri oil platform in international waters. Although the operation was carried out in close coordination with the competent Italian authorities and in accordance with the applicable conventions and international regulations, the Italian state has detained the Sea Punk I on the basis of the so-called Piantedosi Decree. The authorities accuse the captain of failing to follow the instructions of the so-called Libyan Coast Guard.

Since 2016, civil search and rescue organisations have documented almost 80 acts of extreme violence by Libyan militias, the majority of them committed by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard. Last year alone, more than 27,000 people fleeing were also forcibly abducted to Libya by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard in violation of international law. Refugees and migrants in Libya are currently facing an increase in extreme violence and death threats.

Already 11^th detention of a Justice Fleet alliance vessel

This is already the eleventh detention of a vessel belonging to the Justice Fleet, the largest alliance of civil search and rescue organisations.

“While extreme violence against people on the move is currently unfolding in Libya, the Italian authorities want to force us to cooperate with the so-called Libyan Coast Guard. Not with us! We demand an immediate end to European cooperation with the so-called Libyan Coast Guard”, says Justice Fleet spokesperson Giulia Messmer.

In November 2025, 13 search and rescue organisations founded the Justice Fleet alliance, supported by a broad civil society network. They aim to protect international law by taking action against the unlawful detentions of rescue vessels in Italy and the outsourcing of migration deterrence to illegitimate and violent actors in Libya. Over the past ten years, almost 80 acts of extreme violence by Libyan militias, most of them by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard, have been documented in the Mediterranean.