Irish naval vessel back home from Mediterranean
Xinhua, July 18, 2015 Adjust font size:
After a nine-week deployment in the Mediterranean, the Irish Naval vessel LE Eithne returned on Friday to Haulbowline, the naval base and dockyard in south Ireland's Cork city.
In Haulbowline, the crew of LE Eithne were met by crowds of cheering families and friends.
A total of 3,377 people have been rescued by LE Eithne from the waters between Libya and Sicily of Italy as part of the humanitarian operation to rescue migrants fleeing North Africa, codenamed "Operation Pontus".
LE Eithne, which was deployed to the Mediterranean in mid-May, is the first Irish naval ship to join the humanitarian operation in the Mediterranean.
The second Irish naval vessel, LE Niamh, departed its base in Haulbowline last week to continue the work started by LE Eithne. Endit