The humanitarian rescue ship Geo Barents carried out two rescues on January 2, violating a new Italian decree on NGOs active in the Mediterranean. Now the ship that is run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is headed to Taranto and risks sanctions.
The MSF rescue ship in the Mediterranean was racing to help a migrant boat in distress on Monday, but feared doing so might break the far-right Italian government's new law on life-saving missions.
The Italian region of Emilia-Romagna is getting ready to welcome and offer shelter to the 113 migrants on board the Ocean Viking NGO ship - after a gruelling four-day journey up the Adriatic Sea, imposed by Italian authorities.
The Italian government is working on introducing tougher measures to limit the capacities of private rescue organizations carrying out rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Italy says sanctions will be included in a new code of conduct.
SOS Mediterranee estimates it could take "four long days" for the 113 rescued migrants on Ocean Viking to reach the Italian port city of Ravenna. Pregnant women, three babies and dozens of unaccompanied minors are on board.