Italian authorities have detained the Sea-Watch ship Aurora for 20 days. The decision issued today by the Prefecture of Agrigento orders the blockade of the vessel, despite close cooperation with Italian authorities. Sea-Watch is seeking legal action against the detention. Including the Aurora, three civil rescue vessels are currently blocked in the port of Lampedusa. In total, Italian authorities have imposed five detentions for civil rescue ships over the past six weeks.
On the morning of July 14, the crew of the Sea-Watch vessel Aurora was alerted by the initiative Alarm Phone about a boat in distress in international waters. On the way, they encountered another boat in distress with around 80 people on board. The Aurora crew stabilized the situation until state authorities arrived, took over the rescue, and released the crew. At approximately 4:44pm, the Aurora located the original distress case and rescued 70 people in coordination with the civil rescue vessel Dakini. All individuals were safely brought on board the Aurora. Many were suffering from fuel burns, seasickness, and dehydration.
Italian authorities then assigned the port of Pozzallo in Sicily to Aurora—more than two and a half times as far as the nearest safe port, Lampedusa. The crew initially set course for Pozzallo, but deteriorating weather conditions made the journey impossible with 70 rescued people aboard the roughly 14-meter-long vessel. Due to the difficult weather conditions, the Aurora developed an increased list, among other things, and the rescued persons and crew were exposed to an excessive risk of hypothermia and going overboard. While maintaining continuous communication with Italian authorities, the Aurora changed course to Lampedusa. After approximately 10 hours, and with explicit approval from the Italian authorities, the crew entered the port of Lampedusa and brought all rescued persons safely ashore.
Despite the close cooperation, the Prefecture of Agrigento today ordered the detention of the Aurora under the so-called Piantedosi Decree and its amendments. The official justification—that retrospectively, weather conditions had been adequate for a journey to Sicily—is stronglyrejected by Sea-Watch. The rescue vessel Dakini has also been subjected to administrative detention.
Karla Primc, Head of Mission on the Aurora:
“Given the weather conditions, sailing to Sicily would have been simply irresponsible. The Italian authorities were aware of the weather and situation on board, and yet we were detained for entering the nearest safe harbor with permission. This decision is politically motivated; those who rescue are punished – that is the reality in 2025.”
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 800 people have drowned in the Mediterranean since the beginning of 2025. The actual number is likely to be significantly higher.
