Updated 9pm
Sea rescue ship MV Aquarius’ future is in jeopardy after Panamanian maritime authorities withdrew its registration.
Two NGOs which jointly operate the vessel blamed Italy for the decision, saying the government in Rome had pressured Panama to revoke its registration.
Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Salvini denied that and said the Italian government had applied no pressure on Panama.In a statement issued on Sunday, NGOs Doctors Without Borders and SOS Mediterranee said that they were left “reeling” by a message from the Panama Maritime Authority, in which it told the NGOs that it had no choice but to revoke the Aquarius’ registration. According to the NGOs, Panamanian authorities informed them on Saturday that they had been urged to take “immediate action” against the Aquarius by the Italian government. “Unfortunately, it is necessary that [the Aquarius] be excluded from our registry, because it implies a political problem against the Panamanian government and the Panamanian fleet that arrive to European port,” Panamanian authorities allegedly told the two NGOs.
Panama’s decision means that once the ship comes into port it will be deflagged and will not be allowed…
