DUBLIN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Irish naval vessel LE Eithne departed from the southern base of Haulbowline on Tuesday to assist the Italian authorities in search and rescue activities in the Mediterranean.
The military said LE Eithne, with a crew of 72 personnel, is expected to be deployed in the Mediterranean until mid-July.
LE Eithne was the first Irish naval vessel deployed to respond to the crisis in 2015, followed by LE Niamh and LE Samuel Beckett. Three additional Irish naval vessels were deployed to the Mediterranean during 2016 to assist the Italian authorities.
Over 15,600 migrants were rescued by Irish naval vessels last year, according to the military.
The role of the Irish naval vessel is to provide a search-and-rescue capability and to undertake humanitarian search-and-rescue operations at sea in the Mediterranean, the military said. Similar to previous deployments in 2015 and 2016, assistance to persons in distress at sea will be provided.
