Page 6 - 2024 - Q4 - Minerva in Focus

MINERVA IN FOCUS
Letter of
Appreciation
On 31 December 2024,
Minerva Marine received
a Letter of Appreciation
from the UNHCR – The UN
Refugee Agency, for the
assistance provided on 21
August 2024 to 57 persons
in distress in the Greek
Search and Rescue Region
(SRR) by the Oil/Chemical
Tanker “MINERVA LEO”.
We are extremely proud of
the “MINERVA LEO” captain
and crew, who selflessly
responded to the distress
signal, bringing all 57
passengers to safety.
4 UNITED KINGDOM
Minerva Marine Inc. 31 December 2024
141-143 Vouliagmenis Avenue
Voula, Athens, 16673 Greece
By email: info@minervamarine.com
To Whom It May Concern,
Appreciation for rescue in the Mediterranean Sea – MINERVA LEO
On behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee Agency (UNHCR), please accept our great
appreciation for your contribution to safeguarding the lives and human rights of persons in distress at sea.
This recognition stems from the assistance provided on 21 August 2024 to 57 persons in distress in the Greek Search
and Rescue Region (SRR) by the Oil/Chemical Tanker MINERVA LEO (IMO: 9723289; sailing under the flag of Greece)
under your responsibility.
The 57 individuals departed from Libya and were reported in distress in the eastern part of the Libyan SRR. The boat
reportedly drifted into the Greek SRR, where it was located by a Hellenic Coast Guard (HCG) vessel. The HCG vessel,
assisted by the MINERVA LEO, safely rescued and later disembarked the group at Gavdos port, Greece.
UNHCR commends the MINERVA LEO for this rescue as a testament to the dedication of her Shipmaster and crew
to selfless service and respect for the fundamental values and principles of the tradition of seafaring to assist those
in distress at sea; principles which are also enshrined as legal duties in the search and rescue regime under
international law.
UNHCR recognizes the complexities involved in conducting rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea. We
understand that weaknesses in the coordination of search and rescue responses by Mediterranean coastal States
often leave shipmasters faced with difficult choices. Responding to distress signals and rendering assistance to
persons in distress at sea are great humanitarian acts and demonstrate a keen sense of responsibility and respect
for international law.
We hope that the actions of the MINERVA LEO will be duly recognized and regarded as an example of best practice
by other private vessels, shipping companies, and the industry more broadly in rescuing and rendering assistance to
persons in distress at sea, and in ensuring they are not disembarked in Libya.
Elsewhere, and by way of an express general message to all Shipmasters and crews in the industry, UNHCR would
like to take the opportunity to highlight that Libya is not a place of safety for the disembarkation of those rescued at
sea, and urges all vessels involved in search and recuse in the Central Mediterranean Sea not to disembark or
facilitate the disembarkation of rescued person in Libya.
To conclude, UNHCR commends the MINERVA LEO for its actions.
Yours sincerely,
Vincent Cochetel
Special Envoy for the Central & Western Mediterranean Situation
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
La Rive Business Centre, Rue du Lac Biwa, Lac 1, PC 1053 Tunis, Tunisia
cochetel@unhcr.org +41794465544 +21621335965
cc:
International Maritime Organization
4 Albert Embankment
London SE1 7SR
UNITED KINGDOM
International Chamber of Shipping
7th Floor, Walsingham House
35 Seething Lane
London EC3N 4AH
ISSUE 30 / Q4 2024