The European Union’s Operation Irini taskforce has intercepted a ro-ro carrying military vehicles to Libya.
The agency said it had conducted an inspection of the 852-lane-metre Victory Roro (built 1978) off the coast of the African country on 18 July.
The vessel was found to be transporting vehicles to Libya in breach of the United Nations’ arms embargo.
The Equatorial Guinea-flagged ship has long been suspected of transferring military equipment to Libya, Operation Irini said.
Under the name Luccello, flying the flag of Comoros, the ro-ro was identified by the UN Panel of Experts on Libya as having delivered such equipment in March.
Shipping databases list the vessel as controlled by an unknown owner, possibly based in Turkey, which acquired it in March from Medred Ship Management.
Before the July inspection, the cargo vessel had been located by a French Navy plane, assigned to Operation Irini, after moving out of the Suez Canal and entering the Mediterranean.
The Hellenic Navy frigate HS Themistokles monitored the ro-ro before the Italian frigate ITS Grecale took over to carry out the inspection.
The Operation Irini team identified dozens of vehicles designed or modified for military use.
They were seized and the ro-ro was diverted to a European port for further investigations.
Formed in 2020
Operation Irini — Greek for peace — has performed 24 such inspections since it was formed in 2020.
The agency’s core task is the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya through the use of aerial, satellite and maritime assets.
In particular, Operation Irini is mandated to carry out inspections of vessels on the high seas off the coast of Libya suspected to be carrying arms.
It also monitors violations perpetrated via aerial and land routes.
