Berlin/Ortona, 10.12.2025. Yesterday, for the first time, a rescue ship of the newly formed Justice Fleet alliance was detained for refusing operational communication with the Libyan Joint Rescue Coordination Centre. The Justice Fleet does not recognise Libyan maritime actors as legitimate due to their documented record of human rights abuses, amounting to crimes against humanity.  

Italy imposed the detention of Humanity 1 although the experienced crew performed their rescues fully in line with international law — while EU-backed Libyan actors continue to violate law with impunity. SOS Humanity will legally challenge this obstruction of its lifesaving work at sea. 

After a provisional detention following the disembarkation of 85 people rescued from distress at sea in the assigned port of Ortona (Italy) on Tuesday, 2 December, the captain of Humanity 1 yesterday afternoon, 9 December, received a detention order by Italian authorities: For 20 days, the rescue ship is not allowed to sail and perform its search- and rescue operations, combined with a 10,000 euro fine.   

“While criminal Libyan actors are continuously supported by Europe, the urgently needed rescue ship Humanity 1 is detained for not having communicated to Libyan authorities,” says Marie Michel, political expert at SOS Humanity. “Libyan actors at sea are systematically violating international law, putting at risk and even killing people in distress, systematically violating their rights, and threatening and even shooting at rescue vessels. Just last week, the rescue vessel Louise Michel was threatened with live ammunition by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard. Coordinating with them would mean endangering people seeking protection and the crew of our rescue vessel. If anyone should be held accountable for rights violations, it is not humanitarian workers but the Italian authorities and the European Union — for supporting violent militias and increasing the dangerous lack of rescue capacities at sea.”  

To avoid legitimising maritime actors with a well-documented history of human rights violations, SOS Humanity — as part of the new Justice Fleet alliance — ceased communication with Libyan authorities during its latest rescue mission. The alliance was founded in early November 2025 by 13 search and rescue and other humanitarian civil-society organisations in response to nine years of documented brutality and abuses by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard.  Several Italian courts and legal experts have confirmed that Libyan maritime authorities cannot be regarded as legitimate search-and-rescue authorities. A UN fact-finding mission has found the so-called Libyan Coast Guard complicit in crimes amounting against humanity which have now been submitted for investigation by the International Criminal Court. 

Allison West, senior legal advisor at the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights explains: “The detention of Humanity 1 sets a dangerous precent: When Italian or other European authorities order NGO ships to coordinate with Libyan units, they are effectively asking them to take part in an unlawful system. Complying with such orders risks complicity; and therefore, refusal is not defiance but compliance with international law.” 

Together with Humanity 1, 36 rescue vessels and 2 civilian aircraft have received detention orders amounting to a total of 960 days since the Piantedosi decree-law was enacted in February 2023. It severely restricts already limited search and rescue capacities in the Central Mediterranean Sea.  

“While Humanity 1 will be detained in port for twenty days, many people could be in danger of losing their lives at sea without receiving assistance,” says Loic Glavany, captain on board the Humanity 1. “It is every seafarer’s duty and legal obligation to perform search and rescue if someone is in distress at sea. Still, our rescue ship well-equipped and with an experienced crew is being prevented from rescuing people in distress. Last week alone, six people lost their lives at sea who could have been rescued. By keeping Humanity 1 in port for political reasons, the Italian government will be bearing responsibility for further fatalities.” 

SOS Humanity demands the immediate release of its rescue vessel and is taking legal measures against the illegitimate detention of Humanity 1 by the Italian government.