The NGO ship cannot leave the port of Catania because it does not comply with safety and environmental protection requirements
Even if the investigations – still in progress – so far they have not complained anything to the crew of the Sea Watch which twice in a month recovered migrants in the Mediterranean, heading first towards Malta and then towards Italy contrary to what was ordered, the ship of the German NGO of the same name cannot leave the port of Catania where it landed yesterday.
The Coast Guard, Indeed, During his inspection, he detected some critical issues that prevent the vessel from returning to sea “patrol” the Libyan coasts waiting to warn dinghies and boats in difficulty. A number of have been identified “non-compliance” relating both to navigation safety and compliance with legislation on the protection of the marine environment. And until they are resolved “also with the intervention of the flag administration, i.e. Holland, in cooperation with specialized inspectors” the ship “will not be able to leave the port of Catania”.
Sea Watch had already complained yesterday that they couldn't leave immediately: “Forced to stay in Catania for the night, the scheduled crew change was denied to us”, explained by the NGO, “Police requests for information continue on board. Meanwhile, the Mediterranean remains without civilian rescue ships”. And today he returns to attack: “The authorities, under clear political pressure, they are looking for any technical pretext to stop the rescue activity at sea”.
source – http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/cronache/guardia-costiera-blocca-sea-watch-non-conforme-navigare-1637583.html?mobile_detect=false
