Second Captain Morgan ship leaves Sliema to house 120 rescued migrants

The government has chartered a second Captain Morgan vessel to hold around 120 migrants rescued by the Armed Forces of Malta on Wednesday. However a small number of adults, including a pregnant woman, and children, are to be brought to Malta. 

The Baħari loaded provisions and setting off from Sliema shortly after 4pm.

The migrants were rescued after their dinghy drifted into Malta's search and rescue area. They declared they were in distress and were rescued overnight but Malta is refusing to disembark them.

Another Captain Morgan vessel, the Europa II, has been holding 57 migrants just outside Malta's territorial waters for almost a week. 

[attach id=872252 type="video"]The Bahari sets off from Sliema on Thursday afternoon to join a second Captain Morgan vessel housing migrants. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli[/attach]

Malta has closed its ports and also told the EU it cannot guarantee the availability of assets to conduct rescues because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Prime Minister Robert Abela clarified last week that Malta is abiding by international obligations to coordinate rescues. 

The Baħari is expected to drop anchor alongside the Europa II.

The 23.5-metre vessel, which was...