Three days after rescuing more than 90 people in distress in the Mediterranean, the humanitarian vessel "Sea-Watch 5" has disembarked all survivors in the Sicilian port of Trapani, following a standoff with Italian authorities over where the ship should dock.

A spokesperson for the German rescue organization Sea-Watch said the ship arrived in Trapani on Wednesday (March 18) afternoon, allowing the remaining 57 people on board to go ashore. The disembarkation came after the crew declared a state of emergency, citing what it described as an "acute medical emergency" among those rescued.

Dispute over assigned port

The ship had been waiting off the coast of Sicily since Monday (March 16) after Italy initially directed it to sail to Marina di Carrara, a port more than 1,100 kilometers away in northern Italy. The crew rejected the assignment due to the distance, arguing it would endanger those on board.

Permission to dock in Trapani was eventually granted, though authorities noted that doing so contravened the so-called Piantedosi Decree, which regulates NGO rescue operations. Shortly before docking, the organization said it was entering Trapani in defiance of Italian instructions.

The situation drew political attention in Germany, where the federal government’s human rights commissioner, Lars Castellucci, called for a rapid resolution. He said that under international maritime law, the vessel should be permitted to proceed to the nearest safe port.

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Health concerns among rescued migrants

The "Sea-Watch 5" had rescued 93 refugees and migrants in international waters on Sunday (March 15), of those, 36 people (including minors and family members) were evacuated earlier due to urgent needs.

Those who remained on board were reported to be suffering from seasickness, exhaustion, respiratory infections accompanied by fever, and fuel burns. Aid workers warned that without proper medical care, such conditions could worsen significantly, potentially leading to severe infections or sepsis. Among the rescued was also a pregnant woman. Sea-Watch stressed that allowing the ship to enter port was essential to safeguard her fundamental right to life and to prevent a broader health crisis on board.

Mediterranean crossing continues to threaten lives

The central Mediterranean continues to be one of the deadliest migration routes globally. Migrants frequently depart from North African countries such as Libya and Tunisia in overcrowded and often unseaworthy boats, hoping to reach Europe. With no coordinated state-led rescue mission in place, operations are largely carried out by private humanitarian organizations.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 682 people have died or gone missing on the route since the start of the year.

Italy’s policy of assigning distant ports to NGO vessels has been widely criticized by humanitarian groups, who say it delays assistance and limits their ability to respond to other distress calls. Ships that fail to comply with such instructions risk being detained.

The events surrounding the Sea-Watch 5 come amid a broader rise in fatalities in the Mediterranean. New data from the IOM shows that at least 655 people died or went missing in January and February 2026 alone, more than double the figure recorded during the same period last year, despite an overall drop in crossing attempts.

Analysts attribute the increase to a combination of factors, including severe weather, shifting migration routes and obstacles facing rescue efforts. The EU border agency Frontex has cited "extreme weather conditions" such as Cyclone Harry, which hit the region in mid-February, as well as the continued use of fragile boats by smuggling networks.

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Dangerous route alternatives emerge in European migrant crack down  

Tighter border controls and agreements with countries such as Tunisia and Libya have pushed migrants onto longer and more dangerous routes. These journeys expose migrants who take them to harsher conditions and are often less visible to rescuers.

"The more we apply pressure to prevent departures, the more we create ideal conditions for smugglers," said Arnaud Banos, a French migration researcher who has also worked aboard Sea-Watch vessels, who warned that such policies ultimately increase risks for those attempting the crossing.

Non-governmental organizations have also criticised what they describe as growing restrictions on rescue missions. Giulia Messmer, a spokesperson for Sea-Watch, said authorities increasingly assign ports "over a thousand kilometers away" immediately after a first rescue.

"It means that we are actively forced or demanded to ignore other cases of distress in the vicinity, and this is a complete violation of international law," she said.

Humanitarian groups say that limited and inefficient legal pathways to Europe are another driver pushing people towards dangerous sea journeys. Experts say that as land routes into Europe have become more restricted, the Mediterranean remains one of the few remaining options, despite the escalating risks. The true number of deaths is likely to be higher than official figures suggest, with many cases going unrecorded.

EPD and AFP