VALETTA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Rescue vessel Golfo Azzurro, carrying three people saved off the Libyan coast, was refused entry to Malta and travelled northtowards to Italy, local media reported on Tuesday.
The vessel, operated by Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms, was circling outside Malta's territorial waters since Monday, awaiting instructions on where it could disembark three migrants.
Maltese authorities said the rescue operation took place in an area making Lampedusa the nearest port of call.
According to local reports, Italy has denied the ship permission to disembark the migrants in Lampedusa, claiming that a new code of conduct for NGOs involved in such activities had not been observed.
Some NGOs said the code would be a violation of international maritime law.
Maltese Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne insisted that its decision not to allow a rescue vessel to disembark migrants here was in line with international law.
In a tweet, the NGO said it had been more than 48 hours since the three Libyans were saved off the coast of Libya in a rescue operation coordinated by the Italian Guardia Costiera which also involved other vessels.
