Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Matilde-A

In a significant development on September 8, 2024, Turkey denied the European Maritime Operation IRINI team access to inspect the vessel 'Matilde A', which was en route to Libya. This action is in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution No. 2292/2016, aimed at enforcing the arms embargo on Libya. Launched on March 31, 2020, following the inaugural Berlin Conference on Libya, Operation IRINI has been tasked by the European Council to ensure compliance with the UN arms embargo as mandated in resolutions 2292 of 2016 and 2526 of 2020, obligations that bind all EU Member States. This incident marks the twelfth occasion on which Turkey has obstructed an IRINI team's boarding of a merchant ship. Turkey asserts that the IRINI operation is effectively besieging Libya's interim Government of National Unity (GNU) located in Tripoli. Throughout its mission, Operation IRINI has submitted numerous special reports to the UN Panel of Experts on Libya, many of which detail violations or potential violations of the arms embargo and address oil smuggling activities in both western and eastern regions of the country. The mission is focused on countering illicit arms trafficking, facilitating the enforcement of the arms embargo based on pertinent UN Security Council resolutions, and gathering intelligence on oil smuggling's impact on the Libyan economy, including its potential role in funding the arms market. Additionally, it aims to disrupt migrant smuggling networks by collecting intelligence and sharing it with Frontex and relevant national authorities, while also bolstering the search and rescue capabilities of Libyan institutions through specialized training.

In the early hours of November 1, 2015, a maritime accident occurred involving the cargo vessel 'Matilde A' and the product tanker 'Akdeniz' near Constanta, Romania. The collision happened shortly after midnight while both vessels were navigating the fairway, each with pilot assistance, amidst challenging stormy weather conditions. The 'Matilde A' sustained significant damage, featuring a breach measuring 2.5 x 2 meters situated four centimeters below the waterline on its starboard side in the ballast tank area. The vessel had departed from Constanta on October 31 at 3:40 a.m. Following the incident, 'Matilde A' returned to port and successfully docked at the Socep Terminal. Similarly, the 'Akdeniz', which had set sail at 10 p.m. the previous evening, also made its way back to Constanta and secured a berth post-collision.