The detainment occurred over alleged breaches of new rules for ships operated by non-governmental organisations performing search and rescues in the central Mediterranean.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Italian Coast Guard said that after performing a rescue operation in Libyan waters on Saturday the Louise Michel had been instructed to sail to Trapani on mainland Sicily.
However, instead of proceeding directly to the assigned port under the terms of the law introduced by the government of Giorgia Meloni, the coast guard said the ship headed towards three more boats in distress in Maltese waters.
The coast guard claims there were already rescue efforts underway under the coordination of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Rome.
The Louise Michel subsequently disembarked 180 rescued migrants and refugees in Lampedusa.
"We know of dozens of boats in distress right in front of the island at this very moment, yet we are being prevented from assisting. This is unacceptable!" the crew said in a tweet.
"With the situation at sea, holding a rescue ship in port while women, men and children risk dying is absurd.”
“This is not about slogans, but about human lives that can and should be saved," Luca Casarini, chief of mission of Mediterranea Saving Humans, another SAR NGO, said.
ANSA
