Hundreds of people died in the boat accident near Greece on Wednesday. So far 78 bodies have been recovered and there is no hope of finding survivors. The Greek coastguard claims to have previously offered assistance, but migrants refused as they made their way to Italy. Tracking data casts doubt on the Coast Guard’s information.
The BBC has analyzed data on ship movements in the area. According to the report, the completely overcrowded boat did not move for at least seven hours before finally capsizing. However, the Coast Guard claimed that the cutter was sailing towards Italy at this point and did not require assistance.
Using data from MarineTraffic and logs from other ships, the BBC was able to reconstruct activity in the area where the migrant boat sank. The cutter itself had no tracker and the Coast Guard, like the military, is not required to disclose its location.
Boot helped migrants on assignment
At around 4pm (CEST) on Tuesday afternoon, a ship named Lucky Sailor suddenly turned north. The owner said he was asked by the Greek Coast Guard to go to the migrant boat and bring food and water there.
About half an hour later, a Coast Guard helicopter found the migrant boat. Authorities claim that the cutter was on a steady course at the time. Hours later, however, another ship, the Faithful Warrior, sailed to the same location as before to bring food on board – the fishing trawler barely moved from the spot, the ship’s activities are concentrated in one point.
Hours later, Greek authorities insisted the boat maintained its course and speed. Originally the fishing boat was said to be observed from a distance, but a photograph later published by the Coast Guard itself shows the boat up close, apparently lying still in the sea.
Sea in the area 5000 meters deep
According to the BBC’s analysis, it moved only a few nautical miles – which is to be expected for a damaged ship exposed to wind and waves in the deepest part of the Mediterranean. The sea reaches a depth of 5000 meters at this point. The large number of people moving around on board must have also rocked the cutter.
In the late evening hours, about two hours before the accident, the commander of a patrol boat allegedly offered help to the migrants on board, but this was rejected by the migrants. “We have approached the ship to check its condition and that of the passengers and provide assistance again,” the Greek newspaper “Kathimerini” quoted on Sunday as transcribing a report the commander gave to his superiors.
Captain: “Untied Rope”
Then the officials tied a rope to the bow of the ship. However, calls such as “No help” and “Go Italy” were heard on board – no help was needed, the destination was Italy. “Despite repeated calls for help, they ignored us and untied the rope at around 11:57 p.m.,” said the captain, whose name was not released. The patrol boat then accompanied the boat at a distance of 200 meters, he said. At 01:40 the cutter stopped again. Then the boat slowly tipped over. There was a riot among the passengers and screaming was also heard. However, the boat capsized within a minute. The tracking data shows how many ships are rushing to the scene of the accident to help.
In order to solve the boat accident and trace the perpetrators, the Greek authorities asked the European police authority Europol for help with the investigation last weekend. It should become clear what part of the blame lies with the Coast Guard, which is in trouble because of the new data. It is also questionable what role the smugglers play. Nine suspected smugglers who were on board the sunken cutter were rescued and subsequently arrested and are believed to belong to a large gang. The detectives now want to find out the supporters of the smuggling gang.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
