Greek Ombudsman Blames Senior Coast Guard Officers For Shipwreck That Killed 500

A Greek Ombudsman has recommended disciplinary action against eight senior coast guard officers over their handling of the 2023 migrant shipwreck off Pylos, where hundreds of people lost their lives.

It is counted among one of the deadliest incidents in recent years, in which the overloaded trawler Adriana capsized in international waters on June 14, 2023, despite being monitored by the Hellenic Coast Guard for nearly 12 hours.

The Adriana had left Libya on June 10, heading for Italy with an estimated 400 to 750 migrants on board. It entered Greece’s search and rescue zone on June 13, after which the Coast Guard dispatched patrol vessel PPLS-920 to the scene.

However, the trawler sank the next day, killing up to 500 people. Only 104 survived and 82 bodies were recovered.

The Ombudsman, Andreas Pottakis, launched an independent inquiry after the Hellenic Coast Guard refused to conduct an internal investigation.

His report, based on 5,000 pages of documents and testimonies, found “clear indications” that eight senior Coast Guard officers had failed in their duty to protect the lives of those on board Adriana.

The findings have been sent to Greece’s Ministry of Shipping and the Piraeus Maritime Court for further action.

The report also highlighted missing or withheld evidence, including audio recordings of phone calls with Adriana’s captain and video footage from PPLS-920. The Coast Guard stated that its cameras were not working at the time.

Greek authorities claim that Adriana refused assistance and capsized due to the movement of passengers. However, multiple survivors have provided different accounts.

One survivor reportedly claimed that PPLS-920 attempted to tow the trawler multiple times, causing it to tilt and sink. Another alleged that the Greek vessel pulled the Adriana too fast, leading to the disaster.

Investigations by international media, including BBS and NDR, have suggested that a failed towing attempt by PPLS-920 may have contributed to the sinking.

The Ombudsman’s report said that the Coast Guard’s actions had disregarded the risks faced by the migrants, exposing them to danger as per Article 306 of Greece’s Criminal Code.

A naval court launched a separate criminal investigation last year, calling about ten officers, including the Coast Guard Commandant, to testify as suspects.

The preliminary investigation has now been referred to a chief prosecutor. However, lawyers representing the survivors and victims argue that the initial findings failed to fully explain what happened and more evidence must be examined.

References: Reuters, Arab News

Source: Maritime Shipping News