19th June 2025
Barcelona News Catalonia News Madrid News Main News

Open Arms granted permission to set sail from Italy

On Thursday, an Italian judge granted the migrant sea rescue NGO Open Arms permission to set sail from the Italian port it is currently docked at, after it had been immobilised there due to alleged safety concerns surrounding ‘severe anomalies’.

The Badalona-based NGO had been able to dock at the port of Lampedusa with over a hundred migrants aboard after being at sea for 19 days as it awaited permission to sail to a safe port.

Open Arms founder Oscar Camps
Open Arms founder Oscar Camps aboard the ship as it remained docked in Lampedusa. (Reuters / via ACN)

News of Open Arms being allowed to leave Italy comes as Spain’s acting deputy prime minister, Carmen Calvo, made a statement in the Spanish Congress in which she claimed the NGO had never asked for permission to dock at a Spanish port during the 19-day stalemate.

The judge in question cited the possibility that far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini be investigated for ‘kidnapping’, as is happening for his similar actions surrounding the Diciotti rescue ship.

Salvini has said that he expects another investigation and that he is not scared, but ‘proud’ of ‘defending Italy’s borders and safety’.

Recent Posts

Pedro Sánchez rejects increasing military spending to 5% as demanded by Trump

News Desk

Iberia Airlines to launch new flight routes to cities in US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico

News Desk

Spain’s grid operator and electricity providers exchange accusations over blackout

News Desk

Easyjet cabin crews in Spain to go on strike for three days, 25-27 June

News Desk

Reasons for Spain’s April power blackout: ‘overvoltage’ & ‘poor planning’

News Desk

Catalan government to offer loans for young people to cover down payments on first homes

News Desk

Leave a Comment