After rescuing 44 people who were stranded on the abandoned Didon oil platform in the Mediterranean, Sea-Watch’s rescue vessel Aurora is detained by the Italian authorities in Lampedusa for 45 days and fined 7.500€. The detention is based on the so-called Piantedosi-Law and Sea-Watch’s refusal to communicate with the Libyan maritime authorities. A recent UN report has confirmed that they are part of system of  forced disappearances, sexualized violence and torture and against protection seekers, including children, enabled by European actors such as Frontex. Additionally, the organization Sea-Watch now filed a criminal complaint against the so-called Libyan Coast Guard in response to shooting at the Sea-Watch 5 rescue ship last year.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the central Mediterranean has risen to more than 770 people since the beginning of the year, according to the International Organisation for Migration, the highest record in a decade.This fifth detention of a rescue ship from the Justice Fleet alliance since December 2025 results in a severe restriction of rescue capacities in one of the deadliest migration routes in the world.

“Confronted with five detentions orders amounting to a total of 150 days, we sharply denounce the Italian governments reckless and deadly escalation strategy against non-governmental search and rescue organisations”, says Wasil Schauseil, spokesperson of the Justice Fleet alliance. “With the Sea-Watch 5 and now the Aurora, two well-equipped rescue ships are being illegitimately blocked in Italy, while according to reports since March 27 alone more than 180 people are presumed dead or missing in the Mediterranean as a result of Europe’s deliberate policies of neglect.”

The Sea-Watch 5 was detained at the end of March, while the Humanity 1 was detained for 60 days since February 13, leaving two of the largest vessels of the civil fleet prevented from helping people in distress for weeks. Currently, both Sea-Watch ships are blocked in Italian harbors.

On November 5, 2025, 13 search and rescue organizations therefore formed the alliance Justice Fleet and ceased their operational communication with Libyan authorities. In two cases, Italian courts have already ruled in their favor. In recent years, Italian courts have repeatedly emphasized the life-saving role of civil search and rescue and clarified that the so-called Libyan Coast Guard and the Libyan Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre are not legitimate rescue actors, and that complying with their instructions violates international law.