Initial reports said Cyprus received an SOS distress signal and sent a ship to help extinguish a fire which had resulted on board.
The defence ministry in Cyprus clarified that the ship was aided by a Limassol-based vessel, sailing under a Liberian flag, which happened to be in the area and responded to the SOS as per international maritime requirements.
The Maltese government has disputed claims that it did not offer assistance to the Conscience, insisting that a tugboat with firefighting equipment was on site within minutes.
In a statement on Friday morning, the government released a timeline of events, including a photo of the tugboat spraying water onto the humanitarian ship.
The Conscience, which has remained anchored just outside territorial waters, is being monitored by the authorities.
The timeline provided by the government being reproduced below contradicts the claim that the humanitarian vessel received no assistance:
00:20am (local time): Malta Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) received a Mayday call from the passenger vessel Conscience, reporting a fire on the bow while outside territorial waters. The vessel had 12 crew members on board and 4 civilian passengers; no casualties were reported. The crew confirmed the fire was not under control and requested immediate assistance.
00:21am: A nearby tug located approximately one nautical mile away contacted Malta VTS, confirmed it was equipped with firefighting capabilities and offered immediate support. The tug arrived on scene and began firefighting operations.
1:28am: The fire was reported under control. An Armed Forces of Malta patrol vessel was also dispatched to provide further assistance.
2:13am: All crew were confirmed safe but refused to board the tug. Assistance was provided to support interior firefighting efforts.
3:45am: The vessel and its crew were secure.
Times of Malta is informed that the fire was put out in the early hours on Friday, and an Armed Forces of Malta patrol boat was dispatched to the location of the vessel.
Hours after the fire was put out, Flotilla and activists supporting the campaign were still urging the Maltese authorities to rescue the people aboard.
However, the Maltese government told the media that the people on board had refused to board a tug vessel that had put out the fire following contact with the Malta Vessel Traffic Services.
Prime Minister
Robert Abela
Address
Office of the Prime Minister
Auberge de Castille
Valletta VLT 106
robert.abela@gov.mt
Tel
2200 2400
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Head of Secretariat
Mark Mallia
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2200 2400
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Owen Grech
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Tony Sultana
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Office of the Prime Minister
Auberge de Castille
Valletta VLT 106
pps@gov.mt
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2200 1489
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Clive Farrugia
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Gillian Micallef
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Ryan Spagnol
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Philip Massa
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Triq Sa Maison
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Kevin Agius
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Kevin Calleja
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Mariel Farrugia
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Annalise Mamo
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John Abela
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Jessica Abela
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Claudine Sciberras
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Neil Spiteri
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2200 1787
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Joseph Tedesco
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Mary Anne Schembri
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Joyce Cassar
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Thomas Woods
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Joseph Bugeja
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Leo Bonnici
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Charmaine Busato
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Joseph Camilleri
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2123 6380
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John Galea
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2558 3121
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Jeffrey Ellul
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2558 3201
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Joseph Fenech
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2558 3103
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James Handyside
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Palazzo Spinola
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Executive Secretary
Myrna Azzopardi
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Tel
2247 8603
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Rome advised that a tugboat has been sent out and is on the scene. Our communications with the vessel were destroyed in the attack and we are unable to confirm this. Under international maritime law and conventions Malta is obliged to act and ensure the safety of a civilian ship in distress within its proximity. The lack of response and information about the rescue efforts breaches international customary law.