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Libyan coastguard intercepts humanitarian rescue ship Golfo Azzurro

The Libyan coastguard intercepted a humanitarian rescue ship the Mediterranean on Tuesday, threatening to open fire on the crew if they did not sail to Tripoli. The boat, belonging to the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms was conducting a training exercise in international waters when staff noticed a the Libyan ship approaching them. On the ship’s radio, a member of the coastguard boat’s crew can be heard telling aid workers that there were being taken into custody and ordering them to sail towards Tripoli. The man then threatens the group, saying if they don’t follow the orders, they will be “targeted”. “This is Libyan sovereignty,” he can be heard saying. “You have to sail now towards Tripoli port. You are under custody, sir.’‘ ‘‘If you don’t follow the orders we will target you. I have already warned you before. Libya’s government has warned you before but you don’t listen. It is your problem.,” he continues. Spokesperson for Proactiva Open Arms Laura Lanuza told Euronews: “Our boat, the Golfo Azurro, was doing some rescue training 27 miles away off Libyan coast on Tuesday, in International waters. Suddenly the crew saw a Libyan Coast Guard patrol approaching them at full speed. Then, the threats started coming through the radio. http://www.euronews.com/2017/08/16/migrant-rescue-boat-threatened-by-libyan-coastguard-in-international-waters

Rescue ship docked in Pozzallo

Italy on Aug 9 gave permission to the "Golfo Azzurro" to dock and disembark migrants in Sicily after three days of arguments with Malta over who should take in the rescued men. Maltese officials told the "Golfo Azzurro", which had been on its way to Malta for a crew change when it carried out the rescue, to go to the Italian island of Lampedusa, where Italian authorities refused it access. She then stayed in international waters off Sicily until Aug 9, when it had a mechanical problem and Italy's Coastguard gave the ship permission to enter the port of Pozzallo. The three rescued Libyans disembarked in Pozzallo. The men told the Golfo Azzurro crew they were persecuted and feared for their lives in Libya, Gatti said, and all planned on asking for asylum.

Rescue ship still stranded off Italy

The "Golfo Azzurro", operated by Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms, was still right outside Italian territorial waters. The ship rescued three migrants from a little boat about 100 miles off the Libyan coast 72 hours ago. Since then, the ship has been sailing between the territorial waters of Malta and Italy on a parallel route with Malta's waters, then it travelled towards Italy and then, since the afternoon of Aug 8 it has been sailing close to Italian waters. old The Malta Independent that the boat is just outside Sicily, waiting for instructions by the Italian authorities. In the evening, the vessel started to head North towards Pozzallo after a diplomatic dispute between the Maltese and Italian authorities. The ship has been stranded outside Malta's waters as Italian authorities refused to let the migrants disembark. The Maltese authorities did the same with Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne saying that Malta has every right to refuse the migrants. The boat was originally headed towards Lampedusa. It was diverted to Malta after the Italians believed that the NGO involved in the rescue operation, failed to comply with the most recent code of conduct. The Maltese government also refused to let the ship enter Maltese waters arguing that international maritime law clearly states that the ship had to disembark in the nearest port of call, which in this case means Lampedusa. The vessel was originally believed to be operated by the Dutch NGO Boat Refugee Foundation. However it later emerged that the vessel had recently shifted ownership to Proactiva Open Arms.