epa04543378 Hundreds of migrants seen on board the decks of the Moldovan-flagged Blue Sky M cargo ship – believed to be carrying 700 illegal immigrant altogether after it docked at the Italian port of Gallipoli in the early hours of 31 December 2014. Reports say that the vessel had been abandoned by its crew and was heading towards the Italian coast on autopilot before being taken under Italian control. Many of those on board were said to be Syrians and Kurds. EPA/BIAGIO CLAUDIO LONGO