The announcement came just hours after the Spanish government said it would send a navy ship to escort the Open Arms back to Spain.
“The Audaz will depart this afternoon at 5:00 pm and will sail for three days to Lampedusa, where it will take charge of the people hosted by the Open Arms and escort the boat ... to the port of Palma in Mallorca,” the Spanish government said in a statement.
Migrants aboard the Open Arms began jumping off the vessel on Tuesday afternoon, having been stranded for 19 days.
Fifteen migrants reportedly jumped into the water in desperation – some without life jackets – after days on board within tantalising swimming distance of Lampedusa, against the backdrop of a major political crisis in Italy.
Italy has refused to allow the Open Arms to dock despite six EU countries reportedly agreeing to take them in.
Open Arms said the situation on board is desperate and passengers are sleeping jammed together on deck and sharing two toilets.
Many of the migrants have received medical attention for illnesses.
There were initially 147 mainly African migrants on the ship but as the days passed, some were evacuated for medical care and all minors were allowed to disembark.
Over 80 are left on board.
Spain’s Defence Minister Margarita Robles has slammed Italy – and particularly Salvini – over the situation.
“What Salvini is doing in relationship with the Open Arms is a disgrace to humanity as a whole,” Robles said on Monday.
Salvini “has shown he doesn't care about human lives”, she added on Tuesday.
