PALERMO - The NGO migrant rescue ship, Sea Eye 4, has been subjected to "administrative detention" by the Italian Coast Guard after it was found to be in violation of several international maritime safety standards, as well as regulations regarding environmental protection, according to a statement from the Guardia Costiera. 

  Sea Eye 4, which sails under a German flag, had just disembarked 415 rescued migrants in the port of Pozzallo, having waited the necessary quarantine period for incoming ships, before it underwent an inspection by the Coast Guard in the port of Palermo and was ordered to be sequestered before the violations can be fixed. 

  The Coast Guard has specialised inspectors who review ships arriving in Italian ports to verify that the ships comply with the standards regarding the safety of navigation, prevention of pollution and the correct certification of maritime personnel, according to the Coast Guard's statement.

  All ships undergo periodic inspections (the period defined by the "risk profile" of the ship), as well as additional inspections when necessary. The Sea Eye 4 underwent a periodic inspection as it was more than 10 months since its last inspection.

  The Coast Guard revealed "several irregularities of a technical nature, such as to compromise not only the safety of the crew, but also of the people who were and could, in the future, be rescued." They also uncovered violations relating to the protection of the marine environment.

  It was found that in the case of an emergency the ship could only accomodate for 27 people, and additionally that many of the contracts of the crew were "deficient."

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