After a blockade of almost two weeks, the rescue vessel of the German aid organization Sea-Watch arrived in the port of Catania. The "Sea-Watch 3" arrived on Thursday the Sicilian city, accompanied by boats of the Italian Coast Guard and police.
Previously, Italy had agreed with other EU countries on the distribution of 47 migrants on board. Germany also takes over part of the refugees. The "Sea-Watch 3", which flies under the Dutch flag, had taken people on 19 January off the Libyan coast. The government in Rome initially denied the ship entry to an Italian port.
In the dispute over the reception of refugees announced Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Wednesday then an agreement with six other European countries, next to Germany, Luxembourg, France, Portugal, Malta and Romania.
Because of a storm low, the "Sea-Watch 3" anchored last before the Sicilian port city of Syracuse. However, the Italian authorities ordered the ship to call at the port of Catania, some 70 kilometers to the north. According to the Ministry of the Interior, minors on board can best be accommodated there.
Sea-Watch fears legal problems
In Catania, however, the Berlin aid organization fears legal problems. "Away from a safe haven, to a city whose prosecutor is known for his agenda against NGOs," tweeted Sea-Watch. "If this is not a political move, we do not know either, we hope for the best and prepare ourselves for the worst."
Public prosecutor Carmelo Zuccaro from Catania has repeatedly investigated non-governmental organizations. For example, he temporarily had a ship seized by the Spanish NGO Open Arms. He also accused the aid organizations SOS Mediterranee / Doctors Without Borders of disposing of illegal hazardous waste in Italy with their ship "Aquarius". The "Aquarius" then discontinued their mission.
Italy's right-wing interior minister Matteo Salvini has already called for investigations against Sea-Watch and is looking into ways of "blocking ships that are not safe for Italy".