Greece’s defence ministry yesterday announced a week-long shipping ban around Aegean islands facing a migration surge from Turkey, excepting only EU and NATO patrol vessels and registered commercial ships. The ministry said the ban to March 12 around the islands of Lesbos, Chios and Samos was designed “to halt illegal migration flows by sea”.

“An exception is made for Frontex and NATO ships, and ships conducting commercial activity that are equipped with the required valid seaworthiness documents from their flag state,” the defence ministry said.

Greece is attempting to hold back a migration surge by land and sea from neighbouring Turkey that began last week after Ankara said it would no longer stop asylum seekers from entering Europe.