A 96-hour thriller unfolded in recent days — as revealed by TA NEA — involving a ship carrying 350 containers that was “blocked” at the port of Astakos. Information, which appears to have been confirmed, suggested that the vessel was transporting numerous jeeps, possibly destined for military operations in Eastern Libya on behalf of 82-year-old ruler of eastern Libya, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
Following intense behind-the-scenes activity, and after the case was handled with absolute secrecy by the Ministries of National Defense and Foreign Affairs — with the Prime Minister’s office fully informed and simultaneous notification of NATO and intelligence services — the ship eventually departed for Misrata in northwestern Libya.
The thriller centers on the journey and cargo of the cargo ship AYA1, sailing under the Panamanian flag. The vessel is 145 meters long, built in 2004, with its registered owner listed as UDS SHIPPING SERVICES Ltd (also owner of the ship AYA2) and commercially managed by Al Fooz Al Qadem Shipping LLC, with reported offices on Filonos Street in Piraeus.
According to information, the ship departed the port of Mina Jebel Ali in Dubai on the afternoon of July 1, shortly after docking there from India. It reportedly passed through the Suez Canal on the afternoon of July 16 and was initially immobilized by a Dutch frigate as part of the European Union’s Operation Irini.
This operation, launched on March 31, 2020, involves the deployment of EU aerial, naval, and satellite assets with the mission to enforce the arms embargo imposed by the UN Security Council off the coast of Libya — with an expanded mandate covering the Eastern Mediterranean — alongside other responsibilities.
The Tip-Off
Military and other sources report that NATO received intelligence indicating the cargo ship was carrying jeeps and possibly weapons destined for Libya and the Haftar regime. What is certain is that following its initial interception in the Mediterranean, the ship was taken under full control by the Italian navy vessel ITS Morosini, which escorted AYA1 at low speed to the port of Astakos in Aetolia-Acarnania, arriving at 7:00 p.m. on July 27.
The leadership of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs was briefed about this operation and the imminent inspection of the “suspicious” vessel, with references to the case being of “special handling” and “particularly sensitive.” According to the same stream of information, the vessel’s cargo manifest stated the containers did not carry military equipment, but rather cosmetics, cigarettes, electronic appliances, etc.
A prolonged inspection of the containers followed, during which — in the initial phase — massive military vehicles were reportedly identified. However, there was no request for intervention or assistance from the local Greek port authorities.
It was noted that on July 30, the Italian navy ship ITS Morosini departed Astakos, and at 8:00 a.m. the following day (July 31), AYA1 set sail for the port of Misrata, where it arrived yesterday at 1:00 p.m. So far, the full scope of this thriller remains unclear — including the complete contents of the containers and the diplomatic maneuvers that took place prior to the vessel’s departure from the Greek port and its arrival in Libya.
