LÉ Niamh rescues 256 more migrants

In her second operation in just 24 hours LÉ Niamh rescued a further 256 migrants off the cost of Libya, bringing to 3,691 the total rescued to date by the Naval Service in the Mediterranean Sea.

Yesterday’s operation involved the ship taking the 235 men, 13 women and eight children from a wooden barge which was located some 56 miles north-east of the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

They were taken off the unseaworthy barge by boarding teams sent from the ship on RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats).