PRESS RELEASE BY THE GOVERNMENT OF MALTA

The Malta Maritime Security Committee (MMSC) has been meeting since the early morning in order to monitor the situation in relation to the situation of the vessel ‘Conscience’.

The MMSC is composed of all the relevant public authorities with competence in maritime and, in this case, aerial security.

Whilst reiterating the commitment to abide by all international treaties and legislation the country is obliged to follow, the committee clarifies that at no point in time, during the past 48 hours, any aircraft or vessel, currently mentioned in local and foreign media in relation to the case of the vessel Conscience, entered Maltese Sovereign Airspace or the Territorial sea (12 nautical miles from shore). 

Therefore, the territorial integrity of the Republic of Malta was never compromised at any stage. 

The MMSC will keep on monitoring the situation, whilst assistance will be provided to the vessel, according to what is stipulated under international law.