This factsheet provides a summary of political developments and operational updates regarding our ships and aircraft from January to March 2025.
1. Political developments
Sea Rescue organisations joined the criminal trial regarding the shipwreck in Crotone, Italy
On February 26, 2023, at least 94 people died off the coast of Crotone, Italy, after a boat sank despite Frontex being on scene. No mayday was issued, and rescue was delayed. Six Italian officers now face charges of manslaughter and negligence. Several rescue NGOs, including Sea-Watch and SOS Humanity, will join the trial as civil parties to support the victims’ families and push for accountability. This shipwreck is part of a broader pattern of systematic non-assistance at Europe’s borders.
Italy held responsible for a pushback to Libya: a survivor is granted a visa to Italy
On June 14, 2021, the merchant vessel Vos Triton illegally transferred around 170 people to a so-called Libyan coastguard ship, as documented by Sea-Watch’s Seabird 1. A court later ruled that Italy played a substantial role in the operation and is therefore responsible for ensuring rescue and safe disembarkation — which Libya cannot provide. This marks a key legal milestone confirming Italy’s responsibility in cases of distress at sea and unlawful pullbacks.
2. Updates on our aerial operations with Seabird 1
Overview of boats in distress spotted
From January – March we conducted 27 operations with our aircraft Seabird 1, 5 with a total flight time of 136 hours, equivalent to 5 days and 16 hours. We spotted approximately 997 persons in distress aboard 22 different boats.
- 260 persons, on board 6 boats in distress, including 3 boats from the Maltese and 1 from the Tunisian SAR zones, were intercepted by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard and the Libyan “Coastal Security” and pulled back to Libya
- 455 persons, on board 10 boats in distress, were rescued by the Italian authorities or arrived independently and disembarked in Italy
- 54 persons, on board 1 boat in distress, were rescued by a Frontex ship in the Italian SAR zone, after the NGO ship Astral stabilised the situation
- 208 persons, on board 4 boats in distress, were rescued by NGO vessels and disembarked in Italy
- The outcomes for 20 persons, on board 1 boat in distress, remain uncertain.
From January – March, we must assume that the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex6 was involved in the narratives for at least 697 persons on board 15 boats in distress sighted by Seabird 1. Six of these boats in distress, carrying 254 persons, were rescued by the Italian authorities or arrived independently in Lampedusa. One boat was rescued by Frontex’ Danish ship after stabilisation by the NGO ship Astral, in the Italian SAR zone. The outcome for 1 boat in distress, carrying around 20 persons, remains unknown. Four boats in distress, with 208 persons, were rescued by NGO ships. Finally, 4 boats, with around 215 persons, were intercepted and pulled back to Libya by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard, even from the Maltese SAR zone.
3. Updates on our operations at sea with Sea-Eye 4 and Aurora
Between January and March 2025, Sea-Watch crews rescued 115 people in three operations with Aurora and Sea-Eye 4. In February, Sea-Eye 4 rescued 41 people but was forced to sail three days to Naples. In March, 80 more people were rescued from three boats, but again a distant port was assigned, delaying rescue capacity.
Meanwhile, 32 people were stranded for over three days on the Miskar gas platform after being ignored by multiple authorities. Despite their awareness, no state actor intervened. On March 4th, Sea-Watch’s Aurora rescued the group and brought them to Lampedusa. One person had died during the ordeal.
