Migrant rescue ship accuses Italy of inventing faults to hinder operations

The Italian Coast Guard said Friday that the ship would be prevented from leaving until it rectified 'safety of navigation' faults and other issues.

On Thursday, after waiting for nearly two weeks for the Italian government's permission to come ashore, Sea-Watch 3 disembarked 47 migrants in Catania. The impasse ended after five European countries offered to take in the migrants -- an ad hoc solution that has become increasingly common since Italy's hardline Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, closed the country's ports to migrant boats last June.

In a statement, Sea-Watch said there was political pressure on the coast guard to block the ship from departing.

'This is a clear political move, with supposed irregularities invented only to prevent the Sea-Watch 3 from sailing,' the German non-profit organization said.

Chairman of Sea-Watch Johannes Bayer said the move to block rescue missions has turned the Mediterranean into a 'human rights-free zone.'

'While the United Nations stress the importance of civil sea rescue missions, Italy -- under the protection of other European governments -- turns the Mediterranean into a deadly human rights-free zone by hindering the last current active rescue vessel from its urgently needed rescue mission,' Bayer said, adding that Sea-Watch was confident its vessels comply with all technical and legal regulations.

'With the delay of our ship in harbour, the responsibility for further death at sea is taken, deliberately and with impunity. To hinder rescue workers is a criminal act itself.'

Italy's Interior Ministry declined to comment on the matter.

Since closing the country's ports to migrant boats last year, Italy's populist government has passed a slew of new anti-immigrant laws.

Still, people continue to make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe.

So far in 2019, 5,989 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea, according to the International Organization for Migration, which put the number of those who arrived in Italy during the same period at 202.

IOM said on Twitter Thursday that it was relieved Sea-Watch 3 was allowed to dock in Catania, but it warned that 'there is still no swift, predictable system in place' for migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, and said it feared 'delays, uncertainty will continue to put people's lives at risk.'

Italy's Interior Ministry declined to comment on the matter. Still, people continue to make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe. In a statement, Sea-Watch said there was political pressure on the coast guard to block the ship from departing. IOM said on Twitter Thursday that it was relieved Sea-Watch 3 was allowed to dock in Catania, but it warned that 'there is still no swift, predictable system in place' for migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, and said it feared 'delays, uncertainty will continue to put people's lives at risk.' In a statement, Sea-Watch said there was political pressure on the coast guard to block the ship from departing. In a statement, Sea-Watch said there was political pressure on the coast guard to block the ship from departing. So far in 2019, 5,989 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea, according to the International Organization for Migration, which put the number of those who arrived in Italy during the same period at 202. 'While the United Nations stress the importance of civil sea rescue missions, Italy -- under the protection of other European governments -- turns the Mediterranean into a deadly human rights-free zone by hindering the last current active rescue vessel from its urgently needed rescue mission,' Bayer said, adding that Sea-Watch was confident its vessels comply with all technical and legal regulations. So far in 2019, 5,989 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea, according to the International Organization for Migration, which put the number of those who arrived in Italy during the same period at 202. Still, people continue to make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe. Chairman of Sea-Watch Johannes Bayer said the move to block rescue missions has turned the Mediterranean into a 'human rights-free zone.' So far in 2019, 5,989 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea, according to the International Organization for Migration, which put the number of those who arrived in Italy during the same period at 202. 'With the delay of our ship in harbour, the responsibility for further death at sea is taken, deliberately and with impunity. To hinder rescue workers is a criminal act itself.' Since closing the country's ports to migrant boats last year, Italy's populist government has passed a slew of new anti-immigrant laws. Still, people continue to make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe. Since closing the country's ports to migrant boats last year, Italy's populist government has passed a slew of new anti-immigrant laws. Still, people continue to make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe. Since closing the country's ports to migrant boats last year, Italy's populist government has passed a slew of new anti-immigrant laws. On Thursday, after waiting for nearly two weeks for the Italian government's permission to come ashore, Sea-Watch 3 disembarked 47 migrants in Catania. The impasse ended after five European countries offered to take in the migrants -- an ad hoc solution that has become increasingly common since Italy's hardline Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, closed the country's ports to migrant boats last June. 'With the delay of our ship in harbour, the responsibility for further death at sea is taken, deliberately and with impunity. To hinder rescue workers is a criminal act itself.' Chairman of Sea-Watch Johannes Bayer said the move to block rescue missions has turned the Mediterranean into a 'human rights-free zone.' In a statement, Sea-Watch said there was political pressure on the coast guard to block the ship from departing.

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