MV SAM SIMON is back in La Spezia
The Sam Simon, one of the ships of the Sea Shepherd fleet - an NGO fighting for the protection of oceans and marine animals - is back in La Spezia.
(Riomaggiore, 12 Apr 18) The Sam Simon arrived in La Spezia directly from Liberia at the end of Operation Sola Stella. During this campaign, led in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence of Liberia, the ship has been secretly patrolling for weeks the waters of the Republic of Liberia, in western Africa, in the framework of an undercover operation aimed at fighting illegal unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). It was authorised to board, inspect and stop ships violating international fishing laws, and led to the arrest of several illegal fishing boats, currently detained at the base of the Liberian Coast Guard.
Sea Shepherd wishes to thank the city of La Spezia and all the civilian and military authorities that, on Wednesday 11 April, visited the MV Sam Simon docked at Molo Italia, where the crew welcomed them and illustrated the activities of Sea Shepherd for the protection of the ocean and its inhabitants.
Participants included Mayor of La Spezia Pierluigi Peracchini, Council member Giulia Giorgi, Chief of staff Pietro Antonio Cimino, Mayor of Lerici Leonardo Paoletti, Viceadmiral Roberto Camerini, Cinque Terre National Park's Luca Natale, President of La Spezia Lions Host Igo Salvadori, State attorney Maurizio Caporuscio, FAI La Spezia's Marinella Currè Caporuscio, President of "Premio Montale Fuori di Casa" Barbara Sussi, and artist Margot Bertonati.
The Sam Simon will stay docked at Molo Italia, so that visitors can get on board and meet its crew of volunteers, coming from different countries, who have chosen to devote their lives to the protection of marine species.
An info point will be set up by the ship, to give more information on the activities of the organisation - founded in 1977 by Captain Paul Watson -, buy merchandising, and donate to contribute to the ship's pantry.
The ship will stay docked at Molo Italia for the coming weeks, to get ready for the next mission, and will be visitable for free according to the following timetable:
- Saturday 14 April / Sunday 15 April 2018
- Saturday 21 April / Sunday 22 April 2018
From 09:00 am to noon - From 2:00 to 7:00 pm
Info: contatto@seashepherd.it - www.seashepherd.it
Contact person at Media Liguria: Marcello Di Francesco – 392 091 6029 – liguria@seashepherd.it
Media Department Sea Shepherd Italy: media@seashepherd.it
