Irish naval vessel rescues further 300 migrants off Libyan coast

The Irish naval vessel, LE Eithne, has conducted its second rescue operation in the Mediterranean in less than 24 hours, involving 300 migrants, Defense Minister Simon Coveney said on Friday.

The latest incident occurred 45 km north of Libya in the early hours of Friday morning, Coveney said.

The migrants were on board a barge that was attempting to cross the south central Mediterranean, he said.

The Irish minister confirmed all 300 migrants from the barge were successfully taken on board LE Eithne and that the naval vessel is currently awaiting further instruction from the Italian Marine Rescue Co-ordination Center.

On Thursday morning, LE Eithne received an alert there were five vessels in potential distress about 60 km off the coast of the North African state and rescued 201 migrants.

LE Eithne, with a crew comprising approximately 65 personnel, was deployed to the Mediterranean in mid-May to assist the Italian authorities in the humanitarian rescue operations.

It will be deployed to the Mediterranean for a period of up to six months over the summer period, subject to the operational demands and requirements arising in the theatre of operations. Endit