The Panama Maritime Authority has revoked the registration of the search and rescue ship ‘Aquarius 2’, the one remaining charity rescue vessel still operating in the central Mediterranean Sea. This means that there will be no charity rescue ships off the Libyan coast in the near future, unless the vessel can find a new flag to sail under.
The vessel is currently underway with 58 survivors onboard, but the decision by the Panama Authority (PMA) means that once the ship comes into port it will be unflagged and will not be allowed to operate again unless it can find a new flag, Reuters reported.
In an official statement through social media, SOS Mediterranee, one of the charities that operates the Aquarius, said that the Italian Government pressures Panama to stop the ship’s rescues ‘on world’s deadliest maritime route’ and demanded that European governments allow the Aquarius to continue its mission.
Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said the Italian government had applied no pressure on Panama.
Italian government has closed its ports to humanitarian ships that rescue migrants off Libya, and is not accepting migrants sent back from the German border. Namely, charity rescue vessels with foreign flags will not be allowed in Italian ports. Salvini has also led a popular crackdown against immigration since his League party and the anti-establishment 5 Star Movement took office in June.
On the occasion, he said on Sunday that Aquarius 2 had hindered the work of the Libyan coast guard, ignoring instructions and the revoke of the registration because the ship acts illegally.
Italy has previously attacked the EU for its lack of support on immigration and has threatened to refuse to back the bloc’s multi-year budget.