The captain of one of two NGO rescue ships currently stranded off Malta has told The Malta Independent that it was the Libyan coastguard that instructed the vessel to head north.
Captain Klaus Merkle was speaking to journalists from The Malta Independent during a visit on the NGO’s vessel – the Professor Albrecht Penck.
The boat was accompanied south by a Maltese patrol boat, which eventually took on the people found in the distress situation. After this operation the boat headed towards Malta for shelter and was granted permission after some delays.
This was 11 days ago and so far nothing has been concluded as to the faith of these migrants. Severe weather is expected on Wednesday with the Captain’s weather charts predicting four-meter waves. Consequently, Merkle has taken the decision to steer the boat towards Malta’s eastern coast.
Read the whole story on The Malta Independent’s website
Photo Rene Rossignaud with the permission of The Malta Independent
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