Greece

Greek Court Charges 17 Coastguards Over Pylos Wreck

MAY 27 2025·Updated MAY 28 2025

Story

Above: An aerial photo of the ship Adriana taken by the Hellenic Coast Guard before it capsized, on June 14, 2023. Image credit: Handout/Hellenic Coast Guard via Getty Images

The Facts

A Greek naval court has charged 17 coastguards in connection with the shipwreck of the migrant vessel Adriana near Pylos on June 14, 2023, which killed as many as 650 people in one of the Mediterranean's deadliest maritime disasters, though only 82 bodies were ever recovered.
BBC News
LBC
Aa
The Adriana, a fishing vessel, had departed Libya bound for Italy with approximately 750 migrants onboard. Only 104 survivors, however, were rescued, after the boat capsized and sank in international waters within Greece's search and rescue zone.
Arab News
The Standard
Aa
A Hellenic Coast Guard (HCG) vessel, PPLS 920, monitored the Adriana for 15 hours before it capsized. The HCG has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in handling the incident.
Reuters
R.S.A.
The Deputy Prosecutor of the Piraeus Naval Court, however, found that 17 coastguards should face prosecution for their involvement. The ship’s captain is charged with “causing a shipwreck” that killed “at least 82” people, while the crew is charged with “simple complicity.”
BBC News
R.S.A.
Several former and current senior members of the HCG have also been charged, including the then-chief of the organization, the National Search and Rescue Coordination Centre supervisor, and two navigation safety officers for “exposing others to danger.”
Global
Legalcentrelesvos
The legal team representing the survivors of the Adriana reacted positively to the news, calling it “a significant and obvious development … towards justice,” but stated their intent to file an appeal to begin criminal proceedings against four additional Coast Guard officers.
R.S.A.
Legalcentrelesvos

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

The legal proceedings against those responsible for the disaster that unfolded on June 14, 2023, have been a long time coming. From the ship’s captain and crew to the then-chief of the Hellenic Coast Guard, there was a willful failure among Greek coastguards to discharge their duties, leading to a catastrophic loss of life. Their prosecution marks a step towards justice and accountability.

R.S.A.

Legalcentrelesvos

Narrative B

The sinking of the Adriana was a tragedy, but the Hellenic Coast Guard bears no responsibility for its occurrence. The HCG fulfilled its duties by monitoring the vessel and launching an extensive search and rescue operation once it was evidently in distress. Despite the smears made against it, the HCG has an impeccable record, rescuing 250,000 migrants at sea in the last decade.