Italy blocks migrant rescue ship despite ECJ ruling

Italian authorities blocked another search and rescue vessel on Friday despite increasing deaths in the Mediterranean, going against a landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice. 

The Sea Watch 3 is being held in the port of Reggio Calabria on the Italian mainland, after having rescued 428 people from boats in distress on the central Mediterranean sea in recent days. 

The Italian port authorities have accused Sea Watch international of “having rescued too many people”, according to the NGO, and have detained the vessel until further notice. 

On August 1, the European Court of Justice ruled that national maritime authorities must not detain boats for performing multiple rescues at sea. 

“The number of persons on board, even if greater than that which is authorised, cannot, therefore, in itself, constitute a ground for a control,” said the court in a landmark case brought by Sea Watch against the Italian port authorities.

Sea Watch have blamed the increasingly strident attempts to curb their work on internal Italian politics.  

"Shortly before the parliamentary elections, the Italian authorities are stepping up the criminalization of migration and civil sea rescue. They are once again trying to prevent us from enforcing everyone's right to safety and life using absurd methods,” said board member Johannes Bayer.  

“But they will not succeed, because we will continue our work and fight even more determined than ever."

Attempts to cross the Mediterranean have risen considerably in 2022 according to Frontex data, the EU’s border security agency. 

And with increased crossings come increased dangers: at least 1,325 people are missing in the Mediterranean this year alone, say the Missing Migrants Project.