Updated | PM says tanker ignored rescue rules, AFM supplying water to stranded aboard

Woman requiring medical attention receiving medical care on board as Prime Minister criticises the Salamis's decision not to take the migrants back to Libya as first instructed by Italy's rescue coordination centre.

6 August 2013, 12:00am
by Miriam Dalli

1 min read

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and home affairs minister Manuel Mallia (file photo)

The Armed Forces of Malta are stocking up supplies and distributing water and food among the migrants stranded outside Malta's territorial waters, MaltaToday has learnt.

An inspection by the AFM onboard the MT Salamis has already been carried out as army medics have now boarded the ship to assist migrants requiring medical care.

Since Sunday night, members of the AFM have been monitoring the ship, ensuring it doesn't cross into Maltese waters. As the vessel continues to make slight movements, the Ministry for Home Affairs said such movements were "normal" but reiterated the vessel could not enter the island's territorial waters.

In a tweet at 3:29pm, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat criticised the Salamis's decision not to take the migrants back to Libya as first instructed by Italy's rescue coordination centre.

#Malta in possession of evidence showing #Salamis ignored search+rescue rules and #Italy instructions because of commercial considerations. — Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) August 6, 2013

#Malta fulfils int'l obligations but can't be expected to step in for irresponsible shipowners flouting rules for commercial purposes -JM — Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) August 6, 2013

Although priority is the surveillance of the ship, the Maltese army is also working to safeguard the migrants' lives, an army source told MaltaToday.

It appears the Maltese government is still adamant the tanker returns to Libya with the migrants. Earlier today, the European Commission said the government should bring in the tanker and allow the migrants to disembark.

It said doing otherwise would be in breach of international law.

MT Salamis left the port of Khom in Libya on Sunday and was asked to rescue the migrants, stranded at around 46 nautical miles off the Libyan coast. The oil tanker, destined for Malta, sailed towards the island but was stopped before it entered the territorial waters.

Miriam Dalli joined MaltaToday.com.mt in 2010 becoming assistant editor f...

More from Miriam Dalli

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@ maltesejustice : Please think outside of the box and look beyond the skin color of asylum seekers. Malta happens to be in the Mediterranean sea which is the busiest waterway in the world where not only nice things take place... Unfortunately it is also the theater of so many human tragedies. Malta (party in government & opposition alike) should not be mislead and loose the opportunity to raise above the challenges of the "Mediterranean boat people". There is a pattern emerging that could expose the so far hidden aspects of migration: With a little bit of lateral (positive) thinking, they can easily turn this tragedy into a win-win situation. But this will require more than a couple of Edward DeBono's!

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Did Malta instruct the tanker's captain not to enter Malta's territorial waters or are we relying on what Italy has said? Furthermore Prime minister should never express his opinions and strategies on Twitter. In doing so he would be simply trying to gain people's popularity.

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Somebody should ask the European Commission why two weights two measures? When Italy ordered the Salamis to pick up the immigrants and take them to the nearest port which was Libya everything was fine, you didn't issue any statement saying that Italy was breaking International Law. But now since the ship's captain disobeyed orders and is near Malta, you say that Malta would be disobeying International Law if it does the same as Italy did? This lack of consistency is a mess!

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The European Commission can go to HELL. They have brought only misery to this country which they have rated second or third class, just like Nauru is being used by Australia for their illegal immigrants. The EU is slowly becoming a hated institution in Malta for their callous way in which Malta is being treated. International and European Law are on the side of Malta and there is no way that the EU Commission can force our legitimate Government, in unison with the Opposition, to backtrack on their decision.