On 10 July, the Criminal Court of Catania in Italy acquitted the crew of the Aquarius of charges related to alleged illicit waste trafficking.
The acquittal, after nine years of legal proceedings, is an important milestone for civil society rescue organisations in their long-term fight for recognition of the right to save life at sea, says David Hammond of Human Rights at Sea.
One of those acquitted, along with the crew, was SOS MEDITERRANEE’s coordinator for SAR activities at the time. The NGO explains that the case followed a lengthy investigation by the Catania prosecutor’s office into the disposal of onboard waste, particularly clothing belonging to rescued people and waste generated through medical activities during Aquarius operations in 2017 and 2018. The prosecutor's office classified these items as infectious sanitary waste requiring special handling - a characterisation that SOS MEDITERRANEE has consistently contested.
After a long investigation and trial, the Criminal Court of Catania ascertained that all activities connected to the Aquarius, including port procedures and waste disposal, complied with regulations.
SOS MEDITERRANEE contends that the case is yet another example of Italian governments manipulating the law and instrumentalising administrative regulations to harass, obstruct and criminalise the life-saving activities of SAR organisations operating in the Central Mediterranean.
Hammond adds: “Acquittal following due process underpins justice, but the length of time it has taken to achieve the finding is frankly unacceptable. Set against a background of high-stakes political engagement around the ongoing immigration to EU issue, has meant that honest actions by civil society are unnecessarily politicised at the expense of the individual human rights’ defenders’ liberty when seeking fair treatment of human beings.”
Over the course of this case, attacks against civilian SAR operations have continued. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) staff remain on trial in Catania over similar waste management allegations concerning another vessel, the Vos Prudence.
The start of 2026 saw a dramatic increase in deaths and disappearances at sea, with at least 655 people reported dead or missing between January and February. This is more than double the number recorded during the same period in 2025. By the end of June 2026, over 1,400 people were feared dead or missing in the Mediterranean.
SOS MEDITERRANEE’s announcement is available here.
MSF’s announcement is available here.
ENDS.
Source: Human Rights at Sea 2026. Wendy Laursen.
Photo credit: SOS Mediterranee / Fabian Mondl.
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