Salvini has given the green light for Maersk in Pozzallo

The Danish container ship Alexander Maersk, which had been stranded off the coast of Ragusa since last Friday with 108 migrants rescued in recent days in the Mediterranean, docked in the port of Pozzallo shortly after midnight.

The ship's captain requested the help of a tugboat and a pilot on board for docking operations. The container ship is in fact 113 meters long and docking operations are particularly complex, especially for a crew that does not know the port. The first to disembark from the ship was the maritime doctor Vincenzo Morello, who checked the health situation of the migrants and assured that everything is "under control". Immediately after, the disembarkation operations of the migrants will begin, who will then be transferred to a hot spot for their identification.

The Ministry of the Interior had given permission for the cargo ship Alexander Maersk, which had been stuck in front of Pozzallo for days, to dock at the port of Ragusa. Mayor Roberto Ammatuna announced this, underlining that "this ends the nightmare for the 110 migrants on board who will be welcomed and assisted in the best possible way".

On the dock of the port of Pozzallo the machinery is ready to welcome the migrants aboard the cargo ship flying the Danish flag after the green light from the Ministry of the Interior. A Coast Guard patrol boat accompanied the doctors aboard the ship that is in the harbor for the health monitoring of the migrants before proceeding with the disembarkation. A tugboat also moved to facilitate the entry of the merchant ship into the port given its enormous tonnage.

“I cannot but express my satisfaction for the positive conclusion of the matter – says the mayor of Pozzallo – because the hope contained in my appeal has come true”. “It was a decision expected not only by me but also by the entire city – continues Roberto Ammatuna – which lived with apprehension the evolution of the situation”.

Ammatuna “thanks Minister Salvini for accepting the humanitarian request I submitted and I am sure that the decision taken is the right one”. “The organizational machine is already activated – underlines the mayor of Pozzallo – and we will welcome with the humanity of always these people who have suffered, trying to give them the necessary assistance and give them back their smile. Thanks go to the Prefecture, the police, the Port Authority and the volunteers for their commitment; a special thanks also goes to the commander and crew of the Alexander Maersk ship for the humanity shown”. “Today – concludes Ammatuna – is an important day, because in addition to the happy conclusion of the story it has been demonstrated that solidarity is still a widespread feeling”.