Greece’s Ombudsman has discovered that the coast guard did not observe maritime guidelines in one of many Mediterranean’s worst shipwrecks in 2023, elevating the alarm solely after the overcrowded migrant boat sank, sources informed Reuters.
The conclusions of the inquiry by Greek Ombudsman Andreas Pottakis, which haven’t been revealed, verify survivors’ testimonies and have been despatched to a naval court docket investigating potential legal actions by the authority.
Final week, Pottakis advisable disciplinary motion towards eight coast guard officers citing “clear indications” of alleged dereliction of responsibility which resulted in endangering the lives of these aboard the trawler named Adriana.
The Delivery Ministry mentioned that judicial authorities would consider the report and that it trusts the coast guard for the “efficient safety” of Greek and EU borders.
Coast guard authorities have denied any wrongdoing and on Friday referred to the Delivery Ministry’s assertion when requested for remark.
The coast guard was monitoring Adriana for 15 hours earlier than it capsized and sank in worldwide waters off the southwestern city of Pylos on June 14, 2023. It had left Libya for Italy with about 750 folks on board. Solely 104 are recognized to have survived.
The inquiry discovered that the coast guard didn’t observe protocol and delayed the search-and-rescue (SAR) operation because it waited for the boat to depart Greece’s jurisdiction and sail to Italy, one of many sources mentioned.
“At no stage earlier than the boat sank was the chance escalated from monitoring to a misery and even alert section,” the supply added, citing the 148-page report which dismisses coast guard statements that the boat was seaworthy and people on board didn’t search rescue.
Different findings, the sources mentioned, embrace the coast guard’s lack of response to calls by the European Union’s border company Frontex, no request for help, and the deployment on the scene of just one coast guard vessel that would formally carry 36 folks, had particular forces on board and little rescue tools.
Two service provider vessels that had approached Adriana have been informed by the coast guard to depart earlier than the trawler capsized, the sources mentioned. When folks fell within the sea the rescue operation was delayed.
The coast guard didn’t alert Adriana over its ultimate try to method it and coastguard communications at pivotal hours weren’t recorded making any conclusion about its capsizing unsafe, based on the sources.
(Reuters)
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