Fifteen-year-old Olmitella Racioppo, from the Apulian town of Deliceto, gave birth to her son at 11:45 pm on August 18, just before the ship reached Colombo.

The baby was born weighing 4.1 kilograms and was named Giuseppe Ferruccio Marino.

He was baptised by the ship’s captain, Ferruccio Gianelli.

The baby’s father, 21-year-old Lorenzo Racioppo, was not on board the ship as he still has one year left of military service before he can join his family in Australia.

Mother and son have since disembarked at Melbourne, joining other family members in their new home.