Third navy vessel LÉ Samuel Beckett to be sent to Med

The Naval Service will extend its humanitarian operations in the Mediterranean Sea until the end of November and will send a third ship on the EU-led mission.

The Government has approved a recommendation by Minister for Defence Simon Coveney to extend the mission from the end of September to November 30.

LÉ Niamh, which is working on migrant rescues between the coasts of Libya and Sicily, will end its tour of duty at the end of this month and will be replaced by the navy’s second newest vessel LÉ Samuel Beckett.