The Aquarius 2 migrant rescue ship, the last of its kind operating in the central Mediterranean trafficking route, was told by the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) on Sunday that it will have its registration withdrawn.

The boat is currently at sea with 58 survivors on board.

After being stripped of its Gibraltar registration, the #Aquarius has now lost its Panama flag too. The only charity vessel left the in search and rescue zone in international waters off the coast of Libya is now officially no longer able to operate. https://t.co/MIhlrTdkuV — Anelise Borges (@AnneliseBorges) September 23, 2018

The move ends all charity-run rescue missions off the Libyan coast unless the ship can find a new flag to sail under. It remains unclear where it intends to sail next.

SOS Mediterranee, one of the charities working on the Aquarius 2, said in a statement it was unhappy with the move and accused Panama of bowing to pressure from the Italian government.

⚡️URGENT PRESS RELEASE⚡️Italian Government pressures #Panama to stop #Aquarius rescues on world’s deadliest maritime route // @SOSMedIntl & @MSF_Sea SOS MEDITERRANEE and MSF demand that European governments allow the Aquarius to continue its mission https://t.co/bGElcJ6cwnpic.twitter.com/Dae8rNd22k — SOS MEDITERRANEE (@SOSMedIntl) September 23, 2018

"On Saturday, the Aquarius team was shocked to learn of an official communication from the Panamanian authorities stating that the Italian authorities had urged the PMA to take 'immediate action' against the Aquarius," it said.

SOS Mediterranee, along with Doctors Without Borders, the organisation operating the Aquarius 2 vessel, has called on European governments to either push the Panamanian authorities to reinstate the vessel's registration or to straight away issue a new flag under which it may sail.

⚡PRESS RELEASE⚡ Pressured by #Italy, the announcement by #Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) to revoke the registration of the #Aquarius condemns hundreds of men, women & children who are desperate to reach safety, to a watery grave. #MSF@SOSMedIntlhttps://t.co/w1i6K5yfhM — MSF Sea (@MSF_Sea) September 23, 2018

Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who has previously described the aid boats as a "taxi service" for migrants, denies his country put pressure on Panama, "I don't even know Panama's area code," he tweeted.

#Salvini: nessuna pressione su Panama per #Aquarius2, non so nemmeno che prefisso abbia Panama. #nonèlarena — Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) September 23, 2018

Salvini said on Sunday that Aquarius 2 had hindered the work of the Libyan coast guard, ignoring instructions.

He said that, according to newspapers, Aquarius 2 was about to have its registration revoked by Panama because it was “illegal and does not respect procedures”.

In and out of port - Summer 2018

Euronews' correspondent Anelise Borges was aboard the Aquarius in June. The ship carrying 629 migrants from Sudan and Bangladesh was denied entry to Italy by their new interior minister Matteo Salvini. It was also denied access to Malta.

The Spanish government offered the Aquarius the chance to dock in the port of Valencia, Spain, and the Italian navy offered full assistance and a marine escort for the trip.

Aquarius and its migrants arrived at the Spanish port of Valencia on 17 June.

Half of them opted to claim asylum in France, as France opened its doors to anyone from the Aquarius.

In August 2018, Spain refused entry to the vessel carrying 141 migrants from Eritrea and Somalia as Spain is not the closest safe port, as stipulated by international law.