MORE than 800 refugees onboard two civilian-run rescue ships in the central Mediterranean urgently need to come ashore, their rescuers said today — but the European authorities have so far ignored their calls.

The Ocean Viking, now carrying 553 survivors, and the Sea-Watch 3, with 257 more, began a series of rescues in waters off Libya and Malta last Friday with next to no help from the coastguards.

In one dramatic five-hour rescue late on Saturday the ships saved 400 people travelling in one wooden boat from drowning.