Spanish NGO ship enters in Pozzallo harbor in Sicily

Landing of 3 rescued migrants not authorized. Austria boost controls

ANSAmed

9 August 2017

POZZALLO (RAGUSA) - The ship of Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms, Golfo Azzurro, has entered without authorization in Italian territorial waters and is currently in Pozzallo's harbor.

So far the passengers and crew are not expected to land. The vessel has been waiting for 72 hours for an authorization from Italian authorities.

The deputy commander of the Pozzallo port authority, Marco Tognazzoni, confirmed that at the moment he has ''no authorization from the ministry of interior and infrastructure to allow the people rescued by the ship of the Spanish NGO to disembark''.

A diplomatic strong-arm appears to be ongoing between Malta and Italy over the management of this rescue operation of three Libyan citizens who are reportedly on board the ship. The whole operation was reportedly managed by Malta's coordination center and therefore Maltese authorities should indicate the port where the vessel should dock.

Source: http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/nations/malta/2017/08/09/migrants-spanish-ngo-ship-enters-in-pozzallo-harbor_ed59339c-1895-42dd-a1bf-f9a670cba09f.html

* "Rescue vessel Golfo Azzurro disembarks Libyan migrants in Pozzallo": http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-08-09/local-news/Vessel-carrying-migrants-still-stranded-outside-Sicily-awaiting-instruction-6736177604
* "Migrants: Proactiva ship still out of Italian waters": http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2017/08/09/migrants-proactiva-ship-still-out-of-italian-waters_c0b8e1ca-d07a-41a2-99b1-951b70dc3fa7.html
* "Stranded migrant vessel remains stuck in international waters ": https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170808/local/stranded-rescue-vessel-heads-north-towards-sicily.655216