Following the disembarkation of 85 people on Monday, 1 December, including unaccompanied minors, the rescue ship Humanity 1, operated by the search and rescue organisation SOS Humanity, was provisionally detained in the port of Ortona, Italy, this Tuesday, 2 December 2025. In total, the crew of Humanity 1 had rescued 160 people in distress at sea in two operations last week.

The provisional detention was ordered by the Italian authorities to investigate whether Humanity 1 violated the Piantedosi-law for not having communicated with the Libyan Rescue Coordination Centre. The crew of Humanity 1 operated at all times in accordance with international maritime law, informing the competent search and rescue authorities and following its obligation to assist people in distress. As part of the largest alliance of search and rescue organisations to this day, the Justice Fleet Alliance, SOS Humanity deliberately suspended operational communication with the Libyan Joint Rescue Coordination Centre because the so-called Libyan Coast Guard cannot be considered a legitimate search and rescue actor, as was this year confirmed by the Italian Court of Catanzaro.

“This provisional detention of Humanity 1 is incompatible with international law”, criticises Marie Michel, political expert of SOS Humanity. “The so-called Libyan Coast Guard, coordinated by the Libyan Coordination Centre, is responsible for grave human rights abuses both at sea and in Libya. Refusing to communicate with actors responsible for such crimes is the only way to uphold the principles of maritime and human rights law. And while these actors are not being held accountable but supported by the European Union and its member states, our rescue ship is being detained in port and prevented from providing emergency relief, it is evident that the growing number of detentions of humanitarian ships reduces the rescue capacity at sea and leads to more deaths.”

This is the third time that Humanity 1 has been kept in port under the Piantedosi law and the first provisional detention based on the request to coordinate with the Libyan authorities which has been ordered since the launch of the Justice Fleet alliance. The alliance aims to defend human rights and international law, protect humanitarian work at sea, and create public pressure for political change.

The provisional detention order was issued by the Italian Ministry of the Interior, the Guardia di Finanza and the Ministry of Transport. Humanity 1 is not allowed to leave port until the Prefect has investigated the allegations.

Foto and video for editorial purposes – credits Marcel Beloqui / SOS Humanity :

https://mediahub.ai/en/share/album/7601961a-a805-4a16-8200-641754911c5d 

The rescue report including detailed communication with authorities is available here.

The documentation of e-mail and radio traffic as well as image and video material (with original sound recordings) from Humanity 1 and the provisional detention order can be made available to interested media on request.