A Libyan coast guard boat fired hundreds of rounds at an NGO rescue ship in international waters on Sunday, heavily damaging the ship but leaving survivors and crew unharmed.
The Ocean Viking, operated by the German NGO SOS Méditerranée, had just rescued dozens of people, including nine unaccompanied minors, from a dinghy off the Libyan coast, when the attack took place. Ships in international waters are entitled to navigate freely.
“They started shooting several rounds, not just one or two warning shots,” a source familiar with the incident told Euractiv. “I’ve seen them shoot before, a couple of bullets as a warning sign, but this time it was sustained gunfire.”
On its X account, the organisation published photos showing bullet damage to the vessel. “They shouted at the Ocean Viking to leave the area. No one was injured, but the ship is badly damaged,” the source said.
The NGO also confirmed that the 87 people on board was left without injuries.
This is not the first time the NGO ship has been targeted. In 2022, SOS Méditerranée reported that a Libyan patrol boat fired multiple shots at the ship’s speedboats during another rescue operation in international waters.
“The damage is so severe that the vessel may be declared unseaworthy. It could face serious difficulties navigating,” the source added.
The Libyan coast guard is funded and equipped by Italian authorities under a memorandum renewed in 2022 for another five years. The agreement provides financial support, vessels, and training to the force.
According to the source, photos published by the organisation show that the vessel is a Corrubia-class patrol boat, built for Italy’s militarised law enforcement agency, Guardia di Finanza and gifted to the Libyans.
“You have two main classes of this size, the Corrubia and the Bigliani, which were sponsored by Italy and gifted to the Libyan coast guard,” the source added.
Nick Alipour contributed to this report.
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