The Naval Service flagship the LÉ EITHNE conducted a successful rescue operation of 201 migrants 60 kilometres North of Libya yesterday morning in co-operation with Italian, German and British ships.
The migrants were part of a flotilla of five make shift inflatable vessels that were attempting to cross the South Central Mediterranean.
After receiving notification from the Italian Marine Rescue Coordination Centre and the Italian Task Force Commander of five inflatable crafts crossing the Mediterranean, LÉ EITHNE deployed to assist in the operation. The rescued migrants were transferred to the HMS BULWARK, Royal Navy’s vessel which transported them to a port of safety in Italy.
LÉ EITHNE departed on the 16th of May from Naval Service Headquarter in Haulbowline, Cork to assist the Italian Authorities in the humanitarian search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean.
This is the first rescue by the crew of the LÉ EITHNE since being tasked by Government to deploy to assist with the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean.
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Image: Irish Defence Forces