NGO refugee rescue ship back on patrol after detention in Italy
The Ocean Viking was held by the Italian coastguard for months after its rescue of 181 refugees
The Ocean Viking's crew wave goodbye to Marseille and head towards the Libyan search-and-rescue zone in the central Mediterranean
AFTER six months held in port while more than 700 preventable refugee deaths took place, a charity refugee-rescue ship is finally putting to sea.
SOS Mediterranee announced today that its rescue ship the Ocean Viking had left Marseille and was heading for the Libyan search-and-rescue zone.
The Italian coastguard placed the vessel under “administrative detention” on July 22 following its rescue of 181 refugees and the ship was only allowed to leave port in Sicily on December 21, when it headed back to France to refuel and resupply.
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