Mediterranea Ship Seized After Defying Italian Port Order

Trapani: The migrant rescue ship Mediterranea, operated by the Italian NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans, was impounded by Italian authorities in the Sicilian port of Trapani. The seizure occurred after the ship ignored an instruction to sail to the northwestern port city of Genoa to offload 10 migrants it had rescued on Saturday.

According to Ansa News Agency, the act of seizure was executed under a decree issued by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi last year. The Mediterranea picked up the migrants off Pantelleria and opted to head for Trapani instead of the designated port of Genoa.

Migrant rescue NGOs have frequently expressed that their operations are hindered by the Italian government’s orders to proceed to landing ports that are distant from their rescue areas. The NGOs argue that such directives complicate and lengthen the rescue missions, potentially putting lives at risk.