The Mt-Keonamex-Victory: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

In a landmark decision, an Italian court has ordered six individuals affiliated with the NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans to face trial stemming from a dramatic 2020 rescue operation involving 27 vulnerable migrants stranded in the Mediterranean Sea. This unprecedented case marks the first occasion in Italy where members of a sea rescue team have been prosecuted, setting a significant legal precedent. The incident dates back to August 2020, when the vessel 'Maersk Etienne,' currently operating under the name 'Keonamex Victory,' retrieved 27 individuals from a dilapidated wooden boat approximately 70 nautical miles north of Libya. This operation was conducted under the directive of Maltese rescue authorities, as the migrants were perilously trying to reach European shores but found themselves in dire straits when their boat began to sink. Despite the successful rescue, the 'Maersk Etienne' was not granted permission to disembark the migrants by the authorities in Malta, Italy, or Libya. Consequently, the tanker and its human cargo remained at sea for an agonizing 38 days, during which time they lacked access to adequate medical care and essential facilities. Maersk Tankers, the operator of the vessel, expressed that the ship was not appropriately equipped to accommodate such a large number of individuals and was in urgent need of assistance. To help mitigate the situation, the NGO ship 'Mare Jonio' was dispatched, which was equipped with a doctor who provided critical medical attention. Ultimately, the migrants were successfully transferred from the 'Maersk Etienne' to the 'Mare Jonio' and subsequently taken to Pozzallo in Italy. In the wake of these events, Italian prosecutors in Ragusa have leveled charges against the six NGO members—five men and one woman—including the ship's captain, a crew doctor, and Luca Casarini, a prominent activist and co-founder of Mediterranea Saving Humans. They have maintained that their actions were motivated solely by humanitarian concerns and that they did nothing illegal. Central to the prosecution's case is a claim surrounding a payment of €125,000 (approximately $140,000) made by Maersk Tankers to Idra Social Shipping, the organization that operates the 'Mare Jonio,' several months after the rescue was conducted. Authorities alluded that this transaction could be connected to the transfer of the migrants, a notion contested by the NGO. They characterize the payment as a transparent donation intended to help cover operational costs. Serena Romano, the lawyer representing Mediterranea Saving Humans, highlighted that no prior cases of similar nature had proceeded to trial in Italy, with past investigations either being closed during inquiries or dismissed at earlier stages. The Ragusa court has set the initial hearing for October 21, 2025. Activist Casarini noted that the upcoming trial would provide an essential platform to scrutinize the decisions made by authorities throughout the 38-day ordeal.

The Prosecutor’s Office of Ragusa has leveled serious allegations against the non-governmental organization (NGO) Mediterranea Saving Humans, accusing it of receiving financial remuneration from the shipping giant Maersk. This claim stems from a commercial arrangement made in September 2020, concerning the transfer of migrants from the vessel 'Maersk Etienne', which is currently known as 'Keonamex Victory', to the NGO's ship 'Mare Jonio'. On August 4, 2020, the tanker collected 27 migrants in the Gulf of Gabes. However, the vessel was unable to disembark the individuals for a grueling 37-day period as coastal nations in the vicinity denied entry. It wasn't until September 11 that the migrants were finally moved to the 'Mare Jonio', with safe disembarkation occurring at Pozzallo port the following day.

The tanker formerly known as 'Maersk Etienne' has made headlines once again, this time for its recent sale by Maersk Tankers. Following a tumultuous period that left 27 migrants stranded on board for 38 days as they awaited disembarkation, the vessel's saga came to an end on September 12. It has now been acquired by the Nigerian firm Keonamex Petroleum. The ship has been renamed 'Keonamex Victory' and is currently registered under the Panamanian flag. This transaction marks a significant shift for the vessel, which gained global attention during the Mediterranean migrant crisis.