Banksy's migrant rescue ship seized by Italy's coast guard in Lampedusa

FILE PHOTO: The MV Louise Michel, a migrants search and rescue ship operating in the Mediterranean sea and financed by British street artist Banksy, is seen at sea, August 29, 2020. Picture taken August, 29, 2020. Chris Grodotzki/Sea-Watch.org Handout via REUTERS

MILAN (Reuters) - A rescue ship funded by British street artist Banksy was seized in Lampedusa on Sunday after Italy's coast guard said the boat had disobeyed its instructions to head to Sicily after carrying out a migrant rescue operation.

The coast guard said it had ordered the MV Louise Michel ship to dock in Trapani in Sicily after it performed an initial rescue operation in Libya's Search And Rescue area. The ship instead went to assist migrants on three other boats in Malta's Search And Rescue area.