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Shipwrecks (41)

Fatal shipwrecks at Greece’s sea borders (in Pylos, the Aegean, Crete, among others) reflect the deadly consequences of deterrence policies, the lack of safe and legal pathways, and the absence of adequate search and rescue operations. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), in cases represented by RSA, has repeatedly condemned Greece for systematic omissions and the responsibilities of the Hellenic Coast Guard, as well as for the fatal use of force. Ensuring identification and burial procedures for victims, recording the missing, supporting and providing legal representation to survivors and victims’ families, and establishing accountability for violations of fundamental rights are critical preconditions for justice and accountability.

11 JUN 2026

Pylos Shipwreck: 3 years later

The night of 13-14 June 2023 marks three years since the Pylos shipwreck, when the overcrowded trawler Adriana capsized 47 nautical miles south-west of Pylos, within the Greek search and rescue zone. The omissions and actions of the Greek authorities led to one of the deadliest known shipwrecks in the Mediterranean, with approximately 650 people dead or missing.The timeline that follows documents the critical developments of these three years: the events of that night, the findings of independent investigations, the findings and conclusions of institutional bodies, the testimonies and current legal status of the survivors, and the progress of the ongoing criminal proceedings. Three years on, the crime of Pylos still seeks justice and accountability.

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