Updated | Sea-Watch 3 currently off Sicily’s coast, as Malta urges Italy to offer shelter

The humanitarian vessel Sea-Watch 3, which was last night was reported to have been heading towards Malta with 47 migrants on board, is now off Sicily’s coast. The NGO has appealed for it to be granted a safe port as weather conditions at sea continue to deteriorate.

“We’re faced with a Mediterranean cyclone, a rare weather phenomenon. The Sea-Watch 3 seeks protection from waves up to 7 metres high, rain and icy wind. On board are 47 people rescued from distress at sea last Saturday. Europe, we need a safe haven!”

Late on Tuesday, Italian far-right interior minister Matteo Salvini said on Twitter that the ship was navigating towards Malta, with weather conditions deteriorating.

“It is necessary that Malta lets it into its ports, while the Netherlands are ready to collaborate with Valletta to, with Brussels’ direction, manage landing disembarkation,” he said, adding that “In Italy, the ports are closed.”

However, the ship tracking website MarineTraffic.com shows that while the Sea-Watch 3 appears to have passed by Malta to the South East hours ago, it kept on sailing past the island, and is currently close to Sicily.

In comments to Times of Malta, a Maltese government representative said that, given the weather conditions, Italy should offer the ship shelter. "In view of (Mr) Salvini’s tweet, and given that the weather conditions are worsening he should offer shelter," he said.

Malta is reported to have denied the vessel entry after it had already been denied entry into Lampedusa by Italian authorities. The rescue ship saved the 47 persons on board on Saturday, but it said that over 100 others had drowned.

The course the Sea-Watch 3 took, and its current location off Sicily (Source: MarineTraffic.com)

In a tweet, Opposition leader Adrian Delia insisted that Malta could permit another stand-off.

“Where is Muscat’s plan? One-off agreements get us nowhere. Management by crisis is a crisis of management. Human beings matter. We need to concrete mechanisms and solidarity from all member states. EU needs to act,” Delia said.

Earlier this month, the Sea-Watch 3, along with the Professor Albert Penck, was involved in another stand-off between Malta and Italy.

Malta had allowed both ships, carrying 49 migrants in total, to enter its territorial water to shelter from bad weather, where they remained stranded for days.

It was finally given permission to dock in Malta, when a deal was reached with seven other EU countries to share the relocation of the migrants.