VALLETTA, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The MV Lifeline will be allowed to disembark 234 migrants in Malta after an agreement was reached with seven European Union member states, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on Wednesday.
Muscat said Malta, Italy, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands had agreed to distribute the rescued migrants between them once they were processed.
He did not give details of how the migrants will be distributed.
Muscat said the ship will be impounded and the captain investigated for the incomplete registration of the ship with the Dutch authorities and the decision to switch off its transponder at various times.
Muscat said the "unique case" will be investigated. The prime minister said that according to the Dutch authorities the ship was "stateless".
The Lifeline is expected to make landfall in Malta Wednesday evening and the migrants on board will be given immediate medical attention.
