Finance police offers made a pre-emptive charge in order to try to disperse crowds trying to break through the safety barrier.
The new arrivals then sat down without further protest, as numerous other small boats were lined up waiting to disembark.
As of 5pm local time there were 6762 migrants and refugees on Lampedusa - more than the island’s population of around 6000 - after an unprecedented wave of arrivals in recent days.
Most of the new arrivals were in the hotspot in Contrada Imbriacola, with smaller groups in various other parts of the island including at the pier.
On Wednesday 720 people were transferred off the island by passenger ferry to Porto Empedocle and 180 on a flight chartered by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
A further 750 people were also expected to leave the island later in the day.
Meanwhile, the migrant sea rescue hotline Alarm Phone said Wednesday a group of approximately 47 people could be in distress off Lampedusa.
“We have made contact with a small boat carrying 47 people in distress just 10 km off Lampedusa,” Alarm Phone said.
“At 5am they told us they were adrift without engine fuel.
“Since then, we have had no further news. We hope they have been rescued,” it added.
ANSA
