ITALIAN authorities put the captain of the NGO rescue-ship Sea Watch 3 under house arrest on Saturday after disembarking 40 migrants on Lampedusa following a 16-day standoff in the Mediterranean. 

Early this morning, after 17 days, the last 40 survivors of #SeaWatch3 finally set foot on dry land.

They were brought to the #Lampedusa Hotspot, where they gave captain #CarolaRackete a warm welcome, as she was taken to the same place for identification after being arrested. pic.twitter.com/VVKNkK2JXw

— Sea-Watch International (@seawatch_intl) June 29, 2019

The ship, operated by the German charity Sea Watch, saved 53 people from a watery grave off the coast of Libya on June 12. 

For over two weeks, the vessel stayed in international waters off the coast of Lampedusa after Italy and Malta refused to provide a port of safety.

Thirteen migrants were evacuated to Italy on medical grounds during that time. 

In the early hours of Saturday morning, after entering Italian waters in a “state of necessity” and having not received any assistance from the state, captain Carola Rackete docked the ship in Lampedusa, ramming an Italian border police motorboat in the process which was trying to block the way. 

Ms Rackete said the migrants and the crew were not relieved but angry when they finally made land. 

“This disembarkation should have taken place more than two weeks ago and it should have been co-ordinated instead of hindered by the authorities. 

“European governments in their air-conditioned offices have gambled with these people’s lives for more than 16 days. This is inhumane, unacceptable and probably against every single constitution those people claim to represent. 

“It is a disgrace to both words — ‘Europe’ and ‘union,’ how everyone blamed the others for the blockade while not a single European institution was willing to assume responsibility until I was forced to do so myself.

“I’m willing to face the consequences for my decisions, as it is to be expected by a captain. What about Mr Salvini?”