The arrest and seizure of the Sea-Eye 4 comes just days after the Italian authorities impounded the Aurora, another German search-and-rescue vessel.
Italian authorities have grounded the German sea-and-rescue vessel Sea-Eye 4 at the port of Salerno in southern Italy for "repeatedly violating" an Italian law prohibiting multiple rescues at sea, media outlet eXXpress reported today (August 23).
The vessel has received a fine of €3,333 and will not be allowed to leave the port for 20 days.
In response to the accusations of “again...conducting multiple rescue operations”, Sea-Eye chairman Gordon Isler told eXXpress, "If we hadn't done that, people would have died."
Sea-Eye reported having saved a total of 114 people last week.