Sea rescue in danger: German ship nadir from Italy set!

Sea rescue in danger: German ship nadir from Italy set!

Lampedusa, Italien - The situation around the German sea rescue ship Nadir of the NGO Resqship causes excitement. The Italian authorities have been in the process of holding the ship for several days after saving 112 people from a crowded wooden boat in the Mediterranean on Sunday. The Nadir had originally been supposed to head for a safe port in Lampedusa, but was set there, while the saved people and parts of the crew were allowed to leave the ship. Captain Friedhold Ulonska criticizes the Italian regulations and the associated measures against his crew, which in his opinion are unjustified. The Nadir is accused of not being followed by the specifications of the Italian authorities that are regulated by the PIANTEDOSI decree ( tagesschau.de ).

As reported, the instruction to determine the Nadir on June 8, 2025 after a rescue operation in the night from June 6th. The crew questioned the health of the people on board the wooden boat and acted in accordance with international law. After the rescue, according to Italian regulations, they should have immediately contacted the control center and should head for an assigned port. This leads to a high pressure on the NGO, which is also burdened by the waiting time and the upcoming fines between 2,000 and 10,000 euros. This fixture has been the first of the Nadir since its first assignment in 2021, in which over 12,000 people have already been saved ( resqhip.org ).

contradictions and demands

The allegations of the Italian authorities are based on national law, which is, however, internationally controversial. Critics, including the member of the Bundestag Anne Zerr from the left, call for the immediate release of the Nadir and a review of the work of the competent authorities. Italy, on the other hand, emphasizes the need for the PIANTEDOSI decree to ensure an orderly distribution of migrants and to contain human trafficking. But this is regarded by many as an obstacle to sea rescue, which leads to a critical situation in the Mediterranean ( zdf.de ).

Ulonska finds the measures disproportionate and indicates that the Nadir is involved in the port with the approval of the coast guard. Although one did not want to separate the saved people, the delay led to further complications. Despite the challenges in Lampedusa, the crew remained in order to have clarifying talks with the authorities, while they should also continue towards Sicily to wait for the remaining 20 days of determining.

The critical location of the sea rescue in the Mediterranean is also tightened by the fact that Italy has imposed other rescue ships like "Humanity 1" and "Sea-Eye 4". This means that fewer and fewer ships are in use, while there is still a need to save people in distress. The increased control of the Italian authorities clearly shows that the pressure on civil society organizations is growing, while at the same time more and more people are endangered by the rejection of safe port options.