ROME – Operators of the Mediterranean rescue ship Aquarius have called on European governments to help the vessel find a new flag to sail under following Panama ship registration withdrawal, official sources said on Tuesday.

The ship is now sailing with 58 migrants on board and is asking French authorities to let its passengers disembark in Marseille.

“Currently there are 58 people on board – they have been rescued during two operations on Thursday and Monday. We need to disembark passengers urgently because we can’t keep these people indefinitely – there are children and families” said Aquarius official Alessandro Porro during an interview for InBlu radio.

 “For the moment it’s a no” said French finance minister Bruno Le Maire when asked about the possibility of the ship docking in a French port. Le Maire said the ship was supposed to dock at the nearest port and Marseille was not it.

 The charity in charge of Aquarius has accused the Italian government of pressuring Panama into dropping its registration but Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has denied such accusations.

 The Italian government has approved the “Salvini bill”. The far-right leader managed to pass a decree that will suspend the asylum process for the ones deemed “socially dangerous” and abolish key forms of protection for migrants making them easier to being deported. Parliament has 60 days to modify and debate the degree.

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