AN UNARMED search-and-rescue vessel was fired on by a Libyan coastguard patrol boat on Sunday, humanitarian organisation SOS Mediterranee says.

The MV Ocean Viking had rescued 87 people who were on board at the time of the attack, which took place when it was 40 nautical miles north of the Libyan coast in international waters.

SOS Mediterranee, which chartered the ship in partnership with the International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent, says it had been authorised by the Italian Co-ordination Centre to pause the ship’s course to its assigned port to search for an additional boat in distress.

But while it was doing so it was approached by a Libyan coastguard boat which demanded it leave the area, which the search-and-rescue group says was an unlawful demand. Two Libyan coastguards then opened fire, although they had been told the Ocean Viking would comply.

“Although no-one was physically wounded, everyone on board feared for their lives, and crucial rescue equipment and the ship herself suffered significant damage,” the group said.

“The attack caused bullet holes at head height, the destruction of multiple antennas, and four broken windows on the bridge, and several bullets struck and damaged the three RHIBS (fast rescue boats), along with other rescue equipment.”

SOS Mediterranee said the Libyan coastguard has a “long history of reckless behaviour that endangers people at sea, flagrantly violates human rights and shows total disregard for international maritime law” but continues to receive funding and equipment from the European Union, and that the patrol boat which attacked them was itself donated to Libya by Italy.