Migrant rescue ship ‘Aquarius’ waiting for ‘new flag’ in France’s Marseille

A picture taken on June 26, 2018 shows a rigid inflatable boat at the Aquarius rescue vessel, chartered by French NGO SOS-Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on June 26, 2018 in the open sea aroud 46 km south of Lampedusa. / AFP PHOTO / PAU BARRENA

A humanitarian group operating a private ship that rescues migrants making the crossing to Europe through the Mediterranean says it has arrived in the southern port of Marseille.

SOS Mediterranee said Thursday ‘Aquarius’ is making a stopover while waiting for a new flag and is “determined to go back to sea as soon as possible.”

The group urged European governments to find a new flag for the vessel to secure its future after Panama’s maritime authority removed the ship’s registration, AP reported.

After five days stuck at sea in bad weather, 58 migrants saved on ‘Aquarius’ arrived in Malta over the weekend after being transferred to a Maltese naval vessel.

The migrants will eventually be transferred to the four countries agreeing to accept them: France, Germany, Spain and Portugal.