AFM intervenes after Libyan boat crew overpowered by passengers

The AFM Operations Centre was informed late last night that a Libyan registered 20-metre refrigerated transport vessel, the Benghazi 2, was taken over by a number of ‘passengers’ of various nationalities who happened to be on board the same ship.

In the process, the Libyan captain and his crew were also reported to have been detained in the engine room of the same vessel by the same ‘passengers.’

The vessel at that time was located around 20 nautical miles East of Malta.

The AFM dispatched one of its Protector Class offshore patrol boats P51 together with members of the Maritime Squadron’s Rapid Deployment Team.

Upon arrival on location they were tasked to establish contact with the Benghazi 2 with a view to contain and diffuse the situation and report back to the Operations Centre. The Austal Class Patrol boat P24 and Vittoria Class Melita I were also on location to assist. 

The AFM On Scene Commander successfully negotiated the disembarkation procedures of the 16 ‘passengers’ before an AFM Security Team boarded and secured the Benghazi 2 to obtain the release of the captain and the two members of his crew.

One of the crew members of the ship Benghazi 2 was found to be suffering injuries which were not life threatening. He was given first aid on the spot by the AFM Rapid Deployment Team and immediately evacuated to Malta on board the Search and Rescue launch Vittoria Class Melita I.

The Benghazi 2 was escorted to Malta by two AFM patrol craft and all passengers and crew were handed over to the Police on land for further investigations.