The last remaining NGO rescue vessel in the central Mediterranean remains stuck off Sicily’s eastern coast, with Italy’s government refusing the Sea-Watch 3 entry despite the vessel receiving an invitation from the mayor of Syracuse.

34 adults and 13 children are stuck aboard the ship, which rescued them off the Libyan coast and has since been stranded, with Italy steadfastly refusing it entry first at Lampedusa and then in Sicily.

The ship and its crew reached Syracuse on Thursday as a bitter storm raged across the region. Their plight appeared near its end when the city’s mayor said the ship and its passengers were welcome to disembark.

But Italy’s federal government, which has adopted a hardline stance towards migrant arrivals and declared the country’s ports closed to all NGO rescue vessels, had other ideas.

As the Sea-Watch 3 neared land, it was assigned a berth out at sea, ensuring it remained off land, the NGO said in a statement.

Catania’s prosecutor has since issued an order to allow the 13 minors aboard the vessel to disembark. But that order might end up being counterproductive, the NGO fears.

“After seven days on the ship, to go ahead with the landing of only a part of the shipwrecked people would be traumatic for those who would be forced to remain on board,” a spokesperson said.

“We are grateful to the city Siracusa and its people for this great sign of solidarity. Similarly our thanks go to Palermo, Naples, Barcelona, Berlin, and all the other cities who joined the ranks of open ports and solidarity cities,” said

Sea-Watch chairman Johannes Bayer, who went on to add a parting shot: “apparently human rights in Europe only apply to people under 18 years of age these days”.

Interior Minister Matteo Salvini appeared unmoved by the pleas. 

"They can the investigate and threaten me, but I'm not for turning. Dutch boat belonging to a German NGO? Amsterdam or Berlin await you," he tweeted.