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Rescue ship "Mare Liberum" in the Aegean 2018: Got right twice in court
In mid-August, the Mare Liberum organization wanted to have two ships cross in the Aegean.
You should watch how the Coast Guard deals with refugees at sea.
But both had to stay in port on Lesbos and Sicily.
In the opinion of the competent authority, they violate the requirements that have been in force since an unsuspicious-sounding change in the German Ship Safety Ordinance.
The Federal Ministry of Transport (BMVI) approved this passage from Andreas Scheuer (CSU) in the spring.
Internal letters from the Ministry, which were researched by the FragDenStaat portal and which SPIEGEL has received, now show how clearly Scheuer's officials had the sea rescuers in their sights with the regulation.
On September 16, 2019, an employee had already submitted a template to Scheuer - with a request for a decision.
The reason was that the Higher Administrative Court in Hamburg had just rejected a complaint from the authorities.
Private organizations have been active in the Mediterranean for years.
Some have the goal of saving people, like Sea-Watch or Mission Lifeline.
Others, like Mare Liberum, limit themselves to observation.
Some NGOs use large ships that meet extensive safety requirements, while others use small boats that have not yet done so.
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