A boat with over 200 migrants that was expected to be brought to Malta during the day ended up in Italy after the migrants did not want to be brought here, the Armed Forces of Malta said.

On Thursday, Malta’s Rescue Coordination Centre was informed that a fishing boat carrying around 200 migrants was in distress and requesting assistance 285 miles South East of Malta. The Maltese Rescue Coordination centre immediately diverted a merchant vessel, ‘Eleonora Maersk’, that was in the vicinity to investigate further.  Upon closer inspection and considering the worsening weather conditions (winds of force 6-7), it was decided to take the migrants on board the merchant vessel.  

Subsequently the merchant vessel steamed in a North Westerly direction and is heading towards Malta. Vessels from the AFM’s Maritime Squadron are currently taking the migrants on board and are expected to land at Hay Wharf Base at 11.30am.  

The above mentioned case unfolded in Malta’s Search and Rescue Region.  Migrants ,some of whom are women and children are claiming to be Syrian.

Following this morning's mission AFM patrol boats had been trying to conduct the transfer of migrants from the merchant vessel 'Eleonora Maersk', to the AFM vessels, but migrants on board refused to be transferred since they repeatedly requested to go to Italy. After discussions with the Italian Authorities it was agreed that the migrants would be disembarked in an Italian port later on today. The merchant vessel ‘Eleonora Maersk’ is currently steaming North with all the migrants on board.