VALLETTA, July 5 (Xinhua) -- The Maltese government said on Friday it will take in 55 migrants rescued at sea off Tunisia this week by the NGO boat Alex belonging to the Italian charity Mediterranea-Saving Humans.

A migrant rests on a Mediterranea-Saving Humans NGO boat, as they sail off Italy's southernmost island of Lampedusa, just outside Italian territorial waters, on Thursday, July 4, 2019. (Photo: AP)

In a statement, the Maltese authorities said that "following contacts between the Maltese and the Italian governments", the migrants on board Alex will be transferred onto a Maltese Navy vessel and disembarked in Malta. 

Meanwhile, Italy said it will take 55 migrants currently in Malta off the Maltese authorities' hands. 

The Maltese government reiterated that it had no legal responsibility and described the agreement reached as "part of an initiative that promotes a European spirit of cooperation and goodwill between Malta and Italy." 

Due to Italy's "closed ports policy", Alex remained 12 nautical miles off the Italian port of Lampedusa. 

According to a Friday midday tweet by Mediterranea, the transfer has not yet happened.