The Libyan ship Al Entisar, which ferries humanitarian aid from Malta to Tripoli, was yesterday stopped for a five-hour inspection by a Nato vessel for the second time in two weeks.
On both occasions, the Al Entisar was stopped and cleared after boarding
A Nato official confirmed that the two inspections were carried out, on August 26 and yesterday, under a UN mandate aimed at preventing attacks and threats against civilians in Libya.
“To implement that mission, Nato naval forces can deny access to vessels entering or leaving Libyan ports if there is reliable intelligence to suggest that the vessel or its cargo will be used to support attacks or threats on civilians, either directly or indirectly...
“In both cases the Al Entisar had humanitarian aid supplies as a cargo. On both occasions, the Al Entisar was stopped and cleared after the boarding,” the official said.
Since the Libyan uprising the Al Entisar, being run by the I Go Aid Foundation, has played a mayor role in transporting evacuees out of Libya and humanitarian aid to the war-torn country.
The fishing vessel had brought to Malta five-year-old Malak Al Shami, who lost a limb when a rocket, launched by Gaddafi forces, was fired into her Misurata home in Libya. She was taken along with her family to the US for treatment.
The Al Entisar left Malta on Friday loaded with tonnes of water, food and medicines for the Libyan people.
As it approached Tripoli yesterday morning the ship was stopped by a Spanish Nato vessel for inspection, according to I Go Aid Foundation operations manager Munir Attiga.
He said the ship was first stopped at about 7 a.m. by a French vessel that radioed the captain not to move forward.
After a brief exchange, the French boat cleared the Al Entisar to proceed.
Soon after, the captain was contacted, again via radio, by the Spanish vessel telling him to stop for a routine check under UN mandate 1973.
Following a five-hour inspection, during which time all crew and cargo were inspected, the Al Entisar was allowed to proceed.
Mr Attiga said he was aboard the vessel during the August 26 inspection. After clearing the vessel Nato had cautioned them about possible sea mines but the crew decided to continue their journey to Tripoli.
The Nato official said that while he could not provide further details on operational procedures, “any interception or port access denial of a suspicious vessel is decided on a case-by-case basis against reliable intelligence by our military commanders. It is a routine procedure for Nato naval forces to monitor and board ships that transfer between Libyan ports and foreign ones, or vice versa”.