Catania court releases Sea-Watch 5 says migrant-rescue NGO

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 19 - Sea-Watch International said that a court in Catania has ordered the release of its Sea-Watch 5 migrant-rescue ship after the Italian authorities temporarily impounded it for allegedly breaching the rules for such operations. "Sea-Watch 5 detention order dropped!," the NGO said via X. "Today, the court of Catania decided to suspend the 15-day detention order and the related fine. "Soon, we will be back in the Mediterranean and ready to support people on the move!" The ship was impounded after it saved 18 people, including two children, in the Mediterranean on January 25 for not having communicated the position of the rescue to the Libyan authorities. The NGO said it decided to do so because of "continual violations of human rights". On Wednesday Premier Giorgia Meloni expressed indignation after judges in Palermo ordered the Italian State to pay 76,000 euros in compensation to the German NGO for illegally detaining another of its ships, the Sea Watch 3, in 2019. (ANSA). Read article...

By ANSA