Latest news with #AndreasPottakis
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
Greek inquiry into 2023 migrant shipwreck finds coastguard breached maritime rules
By Renee Maltezou ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's Ombudsman has found that the coast guard failed to follow maritime rules in one of the Mediterranean's worst shipwrecks in 2023, raising the alarm only after the overcrowded migrant boat sank, sources told Reuters on Friday. The conclusions of the inquiry by Greek Ombudsman Andreas Pottakis, which have not been published, confirm survivors' testimonies and have been sent to a naval court investigating potential criminal actions by the authority. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Last week, Pottakis recommended disciplinary action against eight coast guard officers citing "clear indications" of alleged dereliction of duty which resulted in endangering the lives of those aboard the trawler named Adriana. The Shipping Ministry said that judicial authorities would evaluate the report and that it trusts the coast guard for the "effective protection" of Greek and EU borders. Coast guard authorities have denied any wrongdoing and on Friday referred to the Shipping Ministry's statement when asked for comment. The coast guard was monitoring Adriana for 15 hours before it capsized and sank in international waters off the southwestern town of Pylos on June 14, 2023. It had left Libya for Italy with about 750 people on board. Only 104 are known to have survived. The inquiry found that the coast guard did not follow protocol and delayed the search-and-rescue (SAR) operation as it waited for the boat to leave Greece's jurisdiction and sail to Italy, one of the sources said. "At no stage before the boat sank was the risk escalated from monitoring to a distress or even alert phase," the source added, citing the 148-page report which dismisses coast guard statements that the boat was seaworthy and those on board did not seek rescue. Other findings, the sources said, include the coast guard's lack of response to calls by the European Union's border agency Frontex, no request for assistance, and the deployment at the scene of only one coast guard vessel that could officially carry 36 people, had special forces on board and little rescue equipment. Two merchant vessels that had approached Adriana were told by the coast guard to leave before the trawler capsized, the sources said. When people fell in the sea the rescue operation was delayed. The coast guard did not alert Adriana over its final attempt to approach it and coastguard communications at pivotal hours were not recorded making any conclusion about its capsizing unsafe, according to the sources.
Reuters
14-02-2025
- Reuters
Greek inquiry into 2023 migrant shipwreck finds coastguard breached maritime rules
ATHENS, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Greece's Ombudsman has found that the coast guard failed to follow maritime rules in one of the Mediterranean's worst shipwrecks in 2023, raising the alarm only after the overcrowded migrant boat sank, sources told Reuters on Friday. The conclusions of the inquiry by Greek Ombudsman Andreas Pottakis, which have not been published, confirm survivors' testimonies and have been sent to a naval court investigating potential criminal actions by the authority. Last week, Pottakis recommended disciplinary action against eight coast guard officers citing "clear indications" of alleged dereliction of duty which resulted in endangering the lives of those aboard the trawler named Adriana. The Shipping Ministry said that judicial authorities would evaluate the report and that it trusts the coast guard for the "effective protection" of Greek and EU borders. Coast guard authorities have denied any wrongdoing and on Friday referred to the Shipping Ministry's statement when asked for comment. The coast guard was monitoring Adriana for 15 hours before it capsized and sank in international waters off the southwestern town of Pylos on June 14, 2023. It had left Libya for Italy with about 750 people on board. Only 104 are known to have survived. The inquiry found that the coast guard did not follow protocol and delayed the search-and-rescue (SAR) operation as it waited for the boat to leave Greece's jurisdiction and sail to Italy, one of the sources said. "At no stage before the boat sank was the risk escalated from monitoring to a distress or even alert phase," the source added, citing the 148-page report which dismisses coast guard statements that the boat was seaworthy and those on board did not seek rescue. Other findings, the sources said, include the coast guard's lack of response to calls by the European Union's border agency Frontex, no request for assistance, and the deployment at the scene of only one coast guard vessel that could officially carry 36 people, had special forces on board and little rescue equipment. Two merchant vessels that had approached Adriana were told by the coast guard to leave before the trawler capsized, the sources said. When people fell in the sea the rescue operation was delayed. The coast guard did not alert Adriana over its final attempt to approach it and coastguard communications at pivotal hours were not recorded making any conclusion about its capsizing unsafe, according to the sources.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
European rights chief presses Greece on deadly 2023 migrant shipwreck as questions remain
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A top European human rights official urged Greek authorities Tuesday to address claims of negligence in a 2023 boat disaster that killed hundreds of migrants off the coast of southern Greece. Michael O'Flaherty, the Council of Europe's human rights commissioner, cited recent findings by Greece's Ombudsman that maintained Greek coast guard officers failed to prevent one of the Mediterranean's deadliest migrant shipwrecks. Hundreds of migrants died when the Adriana, an overcrowded fishing trawler, sank in international waters off Pylos in southern Greece in June 2023. Survivors claim the Greek coast guard failed to respond to initial distress calls before the vessel capsized – an assertion strongly disputed by the government. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Greek Ombudsman Andreas Pottakis found 'clear indications' that senior coast guard officials disregarded imminent danger to the migrants. 'The Commissioner, who liaises closely with the Ombudsman, notes his important findings and encourages the authorities to take resolute action to ensure appropriate criminal and disciplinary accountability,' O'Flaherty's office said in a report Tuesday. A copy of the report was provided to The Associated Press. During his visit to Greece last week, O'Flaherty met with five government ministers and Cabinet officials as well as shipwreck survivors, their lawyers and advocacy groups. An estimated 500-750 people were aboard the Adriana when it sank while traveling from Libya to Italy. Only 104 people survived, while 82 bodies were recovered. The rest were trapped inside the sinking trawler. The government last week reaffirmed its full confidence in the coast guard's efforts to protect Greece's maritime borders and rescue operations at sea. It argued that the Ombudsman's report had unfairly accepted allegations made by survivors 'without any reliable documentation.' A court in southern Greece last year dismissed a case against nine Egyptian shipwreck survivors accused of causing the sinking, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction because the incident occurred in international waters. ___ Follow AP's global migration coverage at:
Associated Press
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
European rights chief presses Greece on deadly 2023 migrant shipwreck as questions remain
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A top European human rights official urged Greek authorities Tuesday to address claims of negligence in a 2023 boat disaster that killed hundreds of migrants off the coast of southern Greece. Michael O'Flaherty, the Council of Europe's human rights commissioner, cited recent findings by Greece's Ombudsman that maintained Greek coast guard officers failed to prevent one of the Mediterranean's deadliest migrant shipwrecks. Hundreds of migrants died when the Adriana, an overcrowded fishing trawler, sank in international waters off Pylos in southern Greece in June 2023. Survivors claim the Greek coast guard failed to respond to initial distress calls before the vessel capsized – an assertion strongly disputed by the government. Greek Ombudsman Andreas Pottakis found 'clear indications' that senior coast guard officials disregarded imminent danger to the migrants. 'The Commissioner, who liaises closely with the Ombudsman, notes his important findings and encourages the authorities to take resolute action to ensure appropriate criminal and disciplinary accountability,' O'Flaherty's office said in a report Tuesday. A copy of the report was provided to The Associated Press. During his visit to Greece last week, O'Flaherty met with five government ministers and Cabinet officials as well as shipwreck survivors, their lawyers and advocacy groups. An estimated 500-750 people were aboard the Adriana when it sank while traveling from Libya to Italy. Only 104 people survived, while 82 bodies were recovered. The rest were trapped inside the sinking trawler. The government last week reaffirmed its full confidence in the coast guard's efforts to protect Greece's maritime borders and rescue operations at sea. It argued that the Ombudsman's report had unfairly accepted allegations made by survivors 'without any reliable documentation.'
