In a joint statement issued on March 14, four non-governmental organizations -- SOS Humanity, Sea Eye, Sea Watch, and United4Rescue -- condemned the recent surge in administrative halts imposed by Italian authorities on NGO-operated rescue ships flying the German flag.

The statement highlighted that over the past week, the Italian government had stopped three NGO rescue ships -- Humanity 1, Sea-Watch 5, and Sea-Eye 4 -- "based on false accusations, from carrying out their rescue work." Of particular concern was the unprecedented 60-day blockage of Sea-Eye 4, signaling an escalation in the Italian government's actions against civilian sea rescue operations.

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NGOs announce prompt legal action

"With the 20 days of the administrative stop of the ship Sea-Watch 5 and Humanity 1, the rescue fleets have been kept effectively out of the Mediterranean for a total of 100 days," underscored the NGOs.

Marie Michel, spokesperson for SOS Humanity, condemned the situation, labeling the detentions as illegitimate and calling for immediate cessation of such practices.

"It is a scandal that the ship crews of rescue ships in the Central Mediterranean were threatened by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard, financed by Europe, and that after having safely delivered the surviving migrants, they are then kept in Italian ports based on false and illegitimate charges", she added.

SOS Humanity, Sea-Watch, and Sea-Eye let it be known that "They are taking legal action against the illegal detention of their rescue ships."

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Sea Eye 4: 'longest administrative detention ever imposed on a rescue ship'

The prolonged 60-day administrative detention imposed on Sea-Eye 4, which typically lasts 20 days, drew particular outrage. The NGO protested that it was "The longest administrative distraint ever imposed on a rescue ship at sea, as outlined in the Piantedosi decree."

The humanitarian ship, which had rescued 144 migrants, 40 of them minors and infants, off the Libyan coast, transported them to the port of Reggio Calabria. The NGO condemned the detention as politically motivated, aiming to prevent lifesaving efforts.

The administrative stop was decided by Italian authorities, based on the so-called 'Piantedosi decree', after the verification of the documentation transmitted to the Port Authority, the Police Headquarters, and the Finance Guard of Reggio Calabria by the Central Command of the Coast Guard.

The ship was 'accused' of rescuing of migrants in international waters, even after the Libyan Coast Guard offered to intervene.

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