On 10th March 2026, Alarm Phone was informed about a boat in distress carrying 38 people on the way from Tobruk (Libya) to Crete. They were in the Egyptian Search and Rescue (SAR) zone, but close to the Greek SAR border. We alerted the Greek and the Egyptian authorities. We also informed two merchant vessels nearby that were heading towards Europe. But we could not reach them. Instead, JRCC Cairo ordered another merchant vessel, the NEXUS, to search and rescue the boat in distress.
The captain of the NEXUS reacted immediately, found the boat, and took the people on board. But the position where the boat was rescued was just across the Libyan SAR border. For this reason, JRCC Cairo ordered the captain to bring the rescued people to Libya. The captain knew that Libya is not a safe place and did not want to bring the people to this country. He asked the Greek authorities (Hellenic Coastguard) to disembark them in Crete, which also was the closest place to go to. The Hellenic Coastguard blackmailed him by threatening to arrest the crew if they went to Greece. But the captain insisted that he would not bring people to Libya, a country the group had fled, risking their lives, to seek safety in Europe.
We tried to support the captain with legal advice and calls to Maltese and Italian rescue coordination centers as well as to the company of the NEXUS, but without success. Eventually, the company of the Nexus, SUPER BARU, took over the communication with Libyan authorities and presumably forced the captain to go to Libya. After huge pressure from the company and neglectance from all RCCs in the area, the people were disembarked in Tobruk on 12th March and immediately brought to detention where they will face torture and extortion. We fear for their lives and safety.
The policies of deterrence of Fortress Europe and those who practice them are to blame for this violent pushback. We accuse our politicians, but also coastguards and shipping companies for making this possible. Our thoughts are with the group and their relatives. We thank the captain and the crew of the NEXUS for their efforts to bring the people to a safe place.
Timeline (all times in CET)
10 March 2026
20:12 Alarm Phone (AP) alerts via email to Greek and Egyptian authorities and two merchant vessels (IVS Kestral 9700926 and Valfoglia 9417309) for a boat in distress, carrying 35 people (after the rescue it became clear that there were 38 people on board) near the Greek SAR border in Egyptian SAR.
21:12 JRCC Cairo reacts to our alert and sends an email to the merchant vessel NEXUS (IMO number 9173032) and to Alarm Phone, referring to the distress case:
„Therefore, you are kindly requested to:
- Proceed to the reported position if safe to do soand attempt to locate the small boat.
- Assess the situation on sceneand determine whether the persons on board require immediate assistance.
- Provid assistance as necessaryto ensure the safety of life at sea.
- Keep JRCC Cairo informed immediatelyof any developments, including the position, condition of the boat, and number of persons on board.
Your cooperation and prompt action in this life-saving situation are highly appreciated.“
21:40 The captain of the NEXUS answers via email to JRCC Cairo and AP:
„Your bellow message well received and now we start for SAR operation.“
21:45 JRCC Cairo answers to the captain and AP:
„Thank you for your prompt response and for initiating the Search and Rescue (SAR) operation.
JRCC Cairo highly appreciates your cooperation and efforts in assisting persons in a potential distress situation and contributing to the safety of life at sea.
Kindly keep JRCC Cairo updated with any developments.“
22:51 AP sends an email to NEXUS, JRCC Cairo and Greek CG:
„We appreciate that the merchant vessel Nexus is willing to search and rescue the people, but they have to be brought to a safe place and Egypt is no safe place for these people and they are very afraid to be brought there. Also Crete would be likely the closest place to the position of the boat as they were heading North. So we ask to bring the people to Greece and coordinate rescue with Greek authorities.“
23:20 Phone call of AP with the captain of NEXUS
Summary: We spoke with the captain on board, they have visual of the boat in distress and are approaching now. They have them on their starboard side. We informed of the fear the people have and that they should not be returned to Egypt. The captain told us they are coordinating with Hellenic Coastguard and expected them to come for the people.
23:30 We tweet:
🆘️ from a boat in distress carrying 35 people from #Sudan!
They were heading toward #Crete. We alerted authorities & two merchant vessels nearby. #Egypt ordered another merchant vessel to search for the people, but they fear to be brought to Egypt, which is not a safe place!
11 March 2026
02:57 Mail from NEXUS to JRCC Cairo:
„Pls be advise that at 03:13 LT (UTC+2) We found the boat with 38 persons. In psn 33 27.3N / 024 25.5E
35 MEN FROM SUDAN, 1 WOMEN FROM SUDAN, 2 MEN FROM SOUTH SUDAN
PLS SENT COAST GUARD ASAP.
PLS advice what we should do?“
On the AP map, the position of the rescue is just on the border of Egyptian and Libyan SAR:
04:24 Mail from JRCC Cairo to NEXUS and AP:
„Dear Master,
With reference to your previous
messages regarding the rescue of 38 persons at position 33°27.3’N – 024°25.5’E, please be informed that the rescue position is located within the Libyan Search and Rescue Region (SRR).
Accordingly, Libyan MRCC has been informed and coordination has been initiated with them to continue the necessary procedures related to this SAR case and the arrangements for the rescued persons.
For direct coordination, you may also try contacting Libyan MRCC at the following number: +218 910 349 739.
Thank you for your cooperation and your assistance in ensuring the safety of life at sea.“
04.51 Mail from Nexus to JRCC Cairo and AP:
„We have rescued them from a sinking small rubber boat. WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANT, PLS SENT COAST GUARD ASAP.“
05:29 AP spoke on the phone with the captain of NEXUS:
Summary: He does not understand why the authorities are not sending them a boat when they have ordered the rescue. He does not want to take the people to Libya. But the Greek have threatened to arrest the entire crew if they enter Greek territorial waters with the rescued people.
The Nexus is a tanker that has been stuck in the region for several days because of the war in the Middle East. They are not going anywhere until further notice. He is asking for support, perhaps putting pressure on the Greek Coastguard to agree to take them in.
07:33 We tweet again:
The group has been rescued by the crew of the merchant vessel NEXUS. Instead of allowing them to disembark the group in a safe harbour of #Crete, the @HCoastGuard threatens to arrest the captain & crew if they do so.
Knowing that #Libya is not a safe place, the captain does not want to bring the group there. The group has fled, risking their lives, to seek safety in #Europe. We pressure the #Greek coast guard to allow the vessel to disembark in Crete!
07:59 Call from the company of NEXUS to a member of the SAR NGO SOS Humanity attacking him of giving wrong advice. The manager puts pressure on the captain to bring the people to Libya.
10:16 We send the contact of a lawyer to the captain. He proposes that the lawyer should call the company.
14:47 the captain of Nexus asks AP again for help, as his company is not at all supporting him in his wish to not bring the people to Libya, putting him under a lot of pressure and at risk to lose his job.
17:38 The captain of Nexus sends a screenshot of an email from JRCC Cairo (from this morning), telling him that Libya is responsible now and he should bring the people to Tobruk. Also he writes that Italy told him on the phone to contact Libya, and Greece told him the same.
18:27: According to the captain, the company of NEXUS coordinated with the so-called Libyan coastguard, who are coming to the ship.
20:09 AP calls JRCC Piraeus. Officer says that they couldnt allow people to disembark in Crete since the distress was not in Greek SAR zone and JRCC Cairo was responsible.
21:17 AP tries to get in touch with the people on board of NEXUS and to gather phone numbers and names, without success for now.
12 March 2026
01:26 The captain answers saying that they are still discussing what to do and that no one from the crew wants to go to Libya
08:45 We tweet again as we see on VF that Nexus is going S toward Libya and the captain is not reachable any more:
The group still remains on the vessel.
We are in contact with the captain, who reports that #Greece, #Italy and #Malta refuse responsibility and are in favor of forcing people back to #Libya. After huge pressure from the company SUPER BARU, the ship is now heading to Libya.
https://x.com/i/status/2031999934262624532
14:15 On Vesselfinder, NEXUS is still off Tobruk, maybe waiting for a so-called Libyan coastguard boat to take over the people.
20:00 We see on Vesselfinder that NEXUS turned north. So it seems the “handover” of people is finished.
13 March 2026
07:56 According to a relative, the people arrived in a detention center in Tobruk, Libya.
08:24 We tweet:
Family members have informed us that they were contacted by their relatives from a detention centre in #Tobruk, #Libya. The NEXUS has turned North again after the crew was forced to disembark the rescued group in Libya.
The people who were forced back now face detention in inhumane conditions, for fleeing in the attempt to seek safety. They face torture and extortion. We fear for their lives & safety.
The policies of deterrence of the #FortressEurope and those who practice it are to blame for this violent pushback. We blame our politicians for making this possible. Our thoughts are with the group and their relatives.
