1st December 2023
Open Arms
Barcelona News Catalonia News Madrid News Main News

Italian court lets ‘Open Arms’ rescue ship enter territorial waters

The Open Arms rescue ship is on its way to Lampedusa with 147 people on board after an Italian court accepted the Catalan NGO’s appeal against a de facto ban on sea rescue organisations.

After spending 13 days stranded in the central Mediterranean Sea, the tribunal has ruled that the Open Arms vessel can enter Italian waters to ‘aid people on board’ over a ‘serious’ and ‘exceptionally urgent’ situation.

Open Arms
The refugee rescue ship of the Catalan NGO Proactiva Open Arms (by Proactiva Open Arms)

ALSO READ: Richard Gere joins migrant rescue ship, EU president calls for ‘urgent action’

‘Italy’s administrative court has accepted the appeal against [interior minister Matteo] Salvini’s security decree which forbids humanitarian ships entering territorial waters without authorisation, risking €1 million fines,’ said Open Arms founder Òscar Camps via Twitter. ‘The decree is now suspended.’

ALSO READ: UN Refugee Agency calls for ‘immediate disembarkation’ of 507 people

Recent Posts

Israel recalls Spanish ambassador after ‘outrageous remarks’ by Pedro Sánchez

News Desk

Four migrants die after being pushed out of a boat just metres from beach in Andalusia

News Desk

Pedro Sánchez: ‘I have serious doubts Israel is complying with international law’

News Desk

Catalonia in ‘pre-emergency’ drought alert, and may need water shipped in

News Desk

Spain ready to sign deal with UK on post-Brexit status of Gibraltar

News Desk

Spain’s €1.4 billion plan to help protect Doñana National Park from drying up

News Desk

Leave a Comment