The government has insisted that it is not true that under new rules which came into force yesterday, all persons rescued within Malta's search and rescue zone have to be brought to Malta.

Malta's SAR zone covers the central Mediterranean and stretches east almost to Greece.

"The position of the Maltese authorities is that while Malta is responsible for the co-ordination of rescue missions within its search and rescue zone, it is obliged to land in Malta only those persons who are in irremediable distress when the closest harbour is Malta," the government said.

"Therefore, when persons in distress are closer to a port in another country the Maltese government will see to it that such people are taken to the nearest port."

It added that Malta had refused to sign and ratify new rules of the International Maritime Organisation providing that the country responsible for search and rescue is obliged to take persons rescued in that zone.

Malta was not, therefore, bound by those regulations.