The European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI intercepted a merchant ship in the Mediterranean to verify and examine its documents, pursuant to United Nations (UN) resolution 2292. The inspectors opened several containers suspected of being loaded with illegal material.
IRINI pointed out that the inspection process did not result in anything suspicious, so the ship was later allowed to sail away. It added that the inspection process, which took place in harsh weather conditions, took five hours.
Last month, operation IRINI intercepted a suspicious merchant ship off the Libyan coast. This occurred during the first operation after Rear Admiral Stefano Torquetto assumed command, at the end of last September.
In a statement, IRINI stated said that, “after two days in rough sea and strong winds, although the sea state conditions were still marginal, HS NAVARINON Boarding Team was inserted by helicopter and inspected a Merchant Vessel suspected of violating the UN Arms Embargo on Libya.”
It added that, “a Special Forces Team once having secured the area, verified the ship’s documentation and inspected, according to the UN Resolution 2292, several containers suspected to be loaded with unlawful material. Nothing suspicious was discovered, after which the ship was released and proceeded towards the Next Port of Call.”
“The Special Team was very professional, and the unopposed boarding took only 5 hours and safely carried out in accordance with the Task Force 464 Standing Operating Procedures,” the statement added.
In October, Operation IRINI Commander, Rear Admiral Fabio Agostini said that the European Union (EU) needs clear guidelines to improve interoperability while avoiding fragmentation, in order to cope with growing global competition in the Defence industry.