LÉ JAMES JOYCE has rescued another 108 migrants from the Mediterranean Sea, after they were found floating in a rubber vessel off the coast of north Africa.
The operation began at 8.15am. All 108 migrants were taken on board LÉ James Joyce, where they received food, water and medical treatment where required.
The Irish naval vessel began the transfer of the rescued migrants to an Italian Coast Guard vessel at 11.02am, and has now been released to carry out further search and rescue operations if required.
It marks a busy weekend for the Irish naval vessel.
Yesterday the LÉ James Joyce oversaw the rescue of almost 2,000 migrants.
It successfully located and rescued 423 migrants from 18 separate vessels during a complex search and rescue operation. The ship also acted as on-scene co-ordinator for five NGO vessels, who rescued an additional 1500 migrants from the 18 vessels.
Today’s rescue, took place 35 nautical miles (about 65 miles) north-east of the Libyan capital Tripoli and followed a request from the Italian Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centre.
Last week the Irish Defence Forces vessel rescued 617 migrants in the Mediterranean.
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