Tuesday, March 22, 2011

The yellow of the tug is returning to Tripoli

Italy apprehensive about the Italian tugboat was kidnapped last night in Tripoli. The boat "Ace 22" of the company Neapolitan Augusta Offshore sailing from 13.30 to north-northwest with unknown destination, perhaps an oil rig. On board there are 11 crew members, of whom eight Italians. In the evening the Ace 22 has reversed course, after being intercepted by a military helicopter of the coalition.

Crew. Have not been made public all the particulars, but for now you know a Ischia, Giovan Giuseppe Iapino, and a Sorrento, Graziano Scala. Another four are definitely in Sicily. The crew was ordered to disrupt communications by a group of people who declared themselves members of the Libyan port authorities and military.

Men in uniform did embark on the 'Twenty-two ace "also boats two fast boats. Augusta has been operating since 2004 in the port of Mellitah 120 kilometers from Tripoli and 30 from the Tunisian border. The same people who have hijacked the boat had on board Naples Friday and Saturday, requesting information on the performance of the boat.

From Saturday 21 remained on board all night at 6 this morning were joined by some armed Libyan soldiers who have close contact, preventing the tracking of the ship. At 13 they set sail, and since then it has been no news. The Foreign Ministry: "Liberateli. The Crisis Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - told the Ansa news agency - is following "closely" the situation.

"We do not know what the intentions of the Libyans," said Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, adding that the tug "has been hired by Eni and its understanding that" now it is leading to a refinery of Eni ". Then the change of direction. The Minister stated that it was also an intervention that has been asked "to Turkey, which now supports the interests of Italy in Libya because the Italian embassy is closed" should in fact be asking Turkey to the Libyan Government "give the green light to start immediately the Italian ship".

The situation is monitored by a navy ship, the patrol commander Borsini, located in the area. Aces 22, according to the reconstruction of the shipping company, had arrived in Tripoli last Friday from the port of Mellitah, a town 120 km from the Libyan capital, where the company operates steadily since 2004, "for a normal activity required by the charterers." Augusta has been operating for seven years in the port of Mellitah, 120 kilometers from Tripoli and 30 from the Tunisian border.

Out from a scenario of conflict merchant vessels "are traceable if they switched instruments," said the commander of the Harbour of Naples, Admiral Domenico Picone. "The tools may have made off, may have simulated a shutdown or has been destroyed by those concerned," he explained. Rescued 350 migrants.

The Ace 22 two years ago salts in the news for a major relief operation immigrant who was the protagonist: It was March 2009 when the tug was able to rescue more than 350 migrants off the coast of Libya. At that time the tug, 75 feet long, was watching three oil platforms off the coast of Libya when they crossed the sea in a cart full of difficulties that migrants was hooked and towed to the port of Tripoli.

Following that operation, the CGIL Campania demanded that the crew of the tug was awarded the medal for valor civil.

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