A tense stand-off with migrants on a German boxship has continued on Thursday as neither Italy nor Malta can agree who should take the increasingly desperate Bangladeshis.
Klingenberg Schiffahrts' 670-teu Marina (built 2003) is 21 km off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa after rescuing 76 men and three women on 3 May at the behest of Maltese authorities.
A knife fight broke out among the migrants on Wednesday, and the crew have locked themselves in the accommodation unit.
The shipowner's lawyer, Ann Fenech, told TradeWinds she had met on Thursday with the head of the Armed Forces of Malta, Commander Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi, and his team responsible for search and rescue.
The managing partner at Malta's Fenech & Fenech Advocates said she was told that the Malta rescue coordination centre (RCC) has been asking Rome RCC for assistance since 3 May.
"Initially the response was that RCC Rome would be sending a patrol boat out to the ship to collect the migrants," she added.
Malta has sent reminders, but Rome RCC has replied that it is still seeking instructions from the competent authorities.
"I understood this to mean the government minister responsible," Fenech said.
Untenable situation
"In the meantime the situation on board remains very tense with the crew now effectively locking themselves inside the accommodation area with the 79 migrants occupying the forcastle on deck. The only communication between crew and migrants is at meal times."
Fenech said this is clearly an untenable situation.
"The vessel has been in this predicament for five days now and the crew are near breaking point," she added.
"Either Rome RCC is going to allow the vessel to disembark the migrants as it usually does whenever a vessel is located exactly where the Marina is located 13 miles off Lampedusa or Malta is going to allow the vessel to proceed with its voyage to Malta."
The vessel has been supplied with bottled water for drinking, but is out of fresh water completely.
The master and engineer are having to convert air conditioning water for use for washing and toilets, representing 1 litre of water per day per person.
It was also said to be running out of food.
The vessel has 13 crew members predominantly from Ukraine and the Philippines and was en route from Sfax in Tunisia to Malta Freeport with 265 containers, plus another 235 destined for Sousse in Tunisia.
