EUNAVFOR MED IRINI continues to ensure the arms embargo on Libya
12th November Central Mediterranean Sea. Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI, with its naval and air assets, continues to ensure compliance with the UN Resolutions on the arms embargo on Libya through constant monitoring and control of merchant vessels sailing to and from Libya.
IRINI Flagship HS LIMNOS, Hellenic Elli class Frigate, carried out hailings, friendly approaches and inspections on board merchant ships to carry out the tasks assigned to the Operation which, in addition to combating illicit arms trafficking to Libya, involves gathering information on illegal exports of oil and human smuggling by reporting illegal situations to the competent authorities.
Hailings are requests for information transmitted by radio, on VHF frequencies, from naval and air assets of the Operation to merchant ships. Information provided by the inquired vessel is cross-checked with other sources and forwarded to the Force Headquarters (FHQ) on board the Flagship and to the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) in Rome for further analysis.
Friendly approaches are consensual visits on board vessels or ships aimed at promoting maritime awareness and cooperation that may be carried out with the consent of the master of the ship without any specific approval by the flag State. The visiting team sent on board is trained to interact and establish good relations with the crew, to strengthen the cooperation with the maritime community and to increase knowledge from outside about the IRINI Operation.
Boardings are inspections carried out on board at sea to verify documents and cargo. They can be carried out only if reasonable grounds suggest that the ship could transport arms directed to Libya in violation of the embargo. Under the relevant UN resolutions, IRINI is authorized to inspect the cargo and the entire vessel subject to approval by the Flag State of the vessel.
Since its launch in 2020, EUNAVFOR MED IRINI has questioned with hailings almost 16500 merchant vessels, visited at sea with friendly approaches more than 650 vessels and carried out 30 boardings to inspect documents and cargo of suspicious ships.
