Naval service saves 358 migrants from barge

The number of migrants rescued by the Irish Naval Service has passed the 4,000 mark after LÉ Niamh crew rescued 358 people from a wooden barge.

Yesterday’s operation took place 110km north-west of the Libyan capital Tripoli, and all of the migrants were brought onboard the navy vessel just before lunchtime.

The 314 men, 30 women, and 14 children were rescued in the operation. Some of the migrants needed medical attention.

On her first day of operation last Sunday, the ship rescued 98 people. That was followed two days later with the rescue of 256 migrants.

It brings to 712 the number of migrants rescued by the LÉ Niamh to date, and to 4,089 the number rescued since the naval service got involved in the EU-led humanitarian mission.

In the interim, LÉ Niamh has also assisted in transferring 200 migrants between rescue ships. In one of those operations, on Tuesday, they had an unexpected arrival. The ship was taking 114 people from MV Dignity, a Médecins Sans Frontiéres vessel, to port when one of the 14 pregnant women on board went into labour.

The baby was delivered by medics Paul O’Connell and Conor Kilbride just over an hour later and was named Destiny by the child’s Nigerian mother, Grace.

Mother and child were later transferred to an Italian Coast Guard vessel, which brought them to Sicily for post-natal care.

LÉ Niamh left the Navy’s headquarters in Haulbowline, Co Cork, on July 10 to replace LÉ Eithne on the mission. LÉ Eithne rescued 3,377 migrants during her nine-week tour of duty.

LÉ Niamh was last night waiting for instructions from the Italian Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centre for its next operation.

Meanwhile, the Irish Martime Forum, an independent organisation which promotes the country’s maritime resources, has called on the Government to recognise the efforts of the crews of both ships by awarding them medals for the humanitarian mission.

Its spokesman, Captain James Robinson, said a mechanism exists for awarding medals to members of the Defence Forces who perform peacekeeping duties overseas. He said his organisation was urging the Government to create of an appropriate medal to recognise the sterling service of the naval personnel.