The Address | Benghazi – Libya
ROME – A charity rescue vessel run by Germany’s Sea-Watch, impounded last month by Italian prosecutors as part of a probe into aiding illegal immigration, was released Saturday and given permission to sail.
“The Sea-Watch 3 is free! We have received formal notification of the ship’s release from confiscation and its subsequent return to operations,” Sea Watch said on Twitter.
đź”´ The Sea-Watch 3 is free!
We have received formal notification of the ship’s release from confiscation and its subsequent return to operations.
— Sea-Watch International (@seawatch_intl) June 1, 2019
The Dutch-flagged vessel was impounded on May 20 after rescuing migrants off Libya and bringing them to Italy, where interior minister Matteo Salvini of the far-right League had warned the ports were closed.
The migrants were allowed to disembark on Italy’s Lampedusa Island, starting with the 18 most vulnerable – children and people needing medical care – then the remaining 47.
