Spain denies NGO rescue boat permission to leave Barcelona's port

Barcelona's harbour master, managed by the Spanish government, last week denied permission for the Open Arms vessel of the Proactiva Open Arms NGO from leaving port to begin a new search and rescue mission in Libyan waters, reports Ara newspaper and later confirmed by the organization.

The NGO has lodged an official complaint, but in the meantime the vessel is only allowed to operate in Spanish waters. 

The harbour master, who comes under the authority of Spain's development ministry, argues that permission to leave was denied because the vessel is not certified to carry a large number of people on board.

"Preventing us from saving lives is irresponsible and cruel. Cowardly politicians have set the death toll counter going," said the head of Proactiva Open Arms, Òscar Camps, on Twitter.

Minister calls for "safe harbours"

The Catalan foreign affairs minister, Alfred Bosch, also commented on the issue, regretting that the development ministry had taken the decision to deny permission for the vessel to leave port.