{"id":2507,"date":"2023-07-05T19:55:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T19:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/captainsupport.net\/freepylos9\/?p=2507"},"modified":"2024-03-21T12:27:32","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T12:27:32","slug":"under-the-unwatchful-eye-of-the-authorities-deactivated-cameras-dying-in-the-darkest-depths-of-the-mediterranean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/captainsupport.net\/freepylos9\/under-the-unwatchful-eye-of-the-authorities-deactivated-cameras-dying-in-the-darkest-depths-of-the-mediterranean\/","title":{"rendered":"Under the unwatchful eye of the authorities\u2019 deactivated cameras: dying in the darkest depths of the Mediterranean"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

*First Published in Solomon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A collaborative investigation by Solomon, Forensis, The Guardian and ARD presents the most complete tracing, to date, of the course that the fishing vessel Adriana took until it ultimately sank, causing over 600 people to drown \u2212 while under the supervision of Greek and European authorities. A document reveals that according to Frontex recommendations, the Coast Guard vessel was obligated to record the operation on video.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the early hours of June 14, the state-of-the-art cameras of the Coast Guard vessel \u03a0\u03a0\u039b\u03a3-920 were off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deadliest shipwreck within the Greek Search and Rescue Zone, one of the largest the Mediterranean has ever seen, was reportedly not visually detected<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only hours before, aerial photos of the overloaded fishing vessel were taken. Nearby tankers recorded videos before they were ordered to leave the scene. There were satellite images that captured its movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the exact circumstances in which the Adriana capsized off Pylos, killing more than 600 people, remain unclear three weeks on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In affidavits and interviews, some of the 104 survivors attributed the sinking of the fishing vessel to an attempt by the Hellenic Coast Guard to tow it to Italian waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Coast Guard emphasizes that it saved human lives, and maintains that the fishing vessel overturned due to a disturbance by the passengers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solomon, in a joint investigation with the research group Forensis, The Guardian <\/em>and German public broadcaster ARD reveals: the Coast Guard vessel \u03a0\u03a0\u039b\u03a3-920, the only vessel present at the time the Adriana<\/em> capsized, was obligated to \u201cdocument its operation by video-recording\u201d in accordance with a 2021 Frontex document which recommends that the Greek authorities record their operations continually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this had been done, today there would be answers to the questions that the victims\u2019 families are still asking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The \u03a0\u03a0\u039b\u03a3-920 cameras were supposed to record<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By midday on June 13, the Greek and Italian authorities and Frontex (the European Border and Coast Guard Agency), were aware of the overloaded fishing vessel, which had been sailing aimlessly for four days in the central Mediterranean \u2013 its only means of navigation was a compass and the position of the sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The activist network Alarm Phone had also relayed to the authorities the desperate SOS of some 750 men, women, and children \u2014 mostly from Pakistan, Egypt and Syria \u2014 who, lacking potable water, were using their shoelaces to lower containers into the sea: \u201cThey are urgently asking for help\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u03a0\u03a0\u039b\u03a3-920, the Coast Guard vessel which received the order to depart from the port of Souda, Crete to assist, has been the pride of the Coast Guard since 2021. European funding covered 90% of its cost, and it is one of the best-equipped vessels available in Greece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it could not be in better hands: earlier this year, in March, its captain was awarded for \u201chis valuable contribution to the protection of maritime borders and human life at sea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Coast Guard,<\/a> \u03a0\u03a0\u039b\u03a3-920, like its three sister ships <\/a>(\u03a0\u03a0\u039b\u03a3-900, \u03a0\u03a0\u039b\u03a3-910 and \u03a0\u03a0\u039b\u03a3-930), has two state-of-the-art thermal camera systems. According to the Coast Guard, however, when the fishing vessel capsized, the cameras were not in operation because the crew\u2019s attention was focused on the rescue efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we have an incident, we try to have the ability to operate seamlessly. Making some crew members \u2018inactive\u2019 so that they can record a video, you understand, is unethical,\u201d Coast Guard spokesman Nikos Alexiou stated on June 15<\/a>, justifying why the incident was not recorded on video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u03a0\u03a0\u039b\u03a3-920 is equipped with two state-of-the-art thermal cameras.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, one of the three former and current Coast Guard officers who spoke to us during our investigation, said that these cameras do not require constant manual operation and they exist exactly<\/em> for this reason \u2013 to record such incidents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there is still a critical issue: a document reveals that, according to Frontex recommendations in March 2021, the Coast Guard vessel was obligated to record the operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The document states that \u201cif feasible, all actions taken by Frontex assets or Frontex co-financed assets\u2026 should be documented by video consistently.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cost of the \u03a0\u03a0\u039b\u03a3-920, one of four state-of-the-art vessels purchased<\/a> for \u20ac55.5 million, has been 90% financed<\/a> through Frontex. It is designated to be \u201cavailable for four months a year, for Frontex missions outside of Greek waters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In March 2021, Frontex calls for the Coast Guard vessels funded by the organization to video record their operations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Frontex had recommended the visual recording of operations, during a meeting where representatives from Greece were present as well as from other European countries, following complaints of human rights violations by the Coast Guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The complaints that were assessed during the meeting referred to the exact same practice, attributed to \u03a0\u03a0\u039b\u03a3-920: towing vessels of asylum seekers outside of Greek waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We created a 3D model of the Adriana<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Solomon, Forensis, The Guardian <\/em>and ARD worked together and after analyzing a wealth of evidence, we present the most complete picture to date, of the Adriana<\/em>\u2019s course up to the time of its sinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We collected more than 20 survivor accounts and analyzed material derived from, among others, witness statements, official reports from the Coast Guard and Frontex, deck logs of the Coast Guard vessel and tankers in transit, aerial photographs and data on the position and movement of ships and aircraft. We also secured exclusive footage from the commercial vessels that were in the area and spoke to sources at Frontex, the Coast Guard, and rescuers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The analysis of this information resulted in a detailed chronology of the events that occurred on June 13 and 14, an interactive map<\/a> showing Adriana<\/em>\u2018s movement, as well as a 3D model of the fishing vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the help of the 3D model, we were able to do what no official authority or journalistic investigation has done so far: to conduct in-person interviews with survivors of the wreck, using the visual impression of this body of data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/sketchfab.com\/models\/0d464bab006a4136bf2094359a881944\/embed<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trawler <\/a>by Forensis <\/a>on Sketchfab<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using the method of situated testimony,<\/em> the survivors placed themselves in the 3D model of the ship, indicated their location on the deck, and recalled the events that unfolded before the sinking of the Adriana<\/em>: from the alleged towing to its capsize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A survivor, using the 3D model, points to the blue rope which was used to tow the Adriana<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A survivor uses the 3D model to describe how the fishing vessel overturned.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In this way, we were able to cross-reference accounts of what happened in the presence of the Coast Guard vessel, based on each person\u2019s eyewitness account. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Main conclusions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Eleven critical findings emerge from the joint investigation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n