The Irish naval ship Lé Eithne has rescued 201 migrants off the northern coast of Libya this morning.

It is the first operation in the Mediterranean since deployment to aid in the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean.

Working with ships from Italy, Germany and Britain, the Irish crew rescued a group of migrants who had been travelling as part of a flotilla, consisting of five make-shift inflatable vessels.

The group, which included men, women, children, and one infant, was attempting to cross the Mediterranean. They were rescued 60km north of Libya.

Italian officials alerted the Irish crew at 8am this morning, alerting them to the inflatable crafts making the crossing. The Lé Eithne was at the scene by 10am.

The Defence Forces report that the seas were calm during the rescue.

The migrants rescued will not be transferred to the HMS Bulwark, which will then take them on to a port in Italy.

The Le Eithne deployed from Cork on May 16, to work with Italian authorities in their search rescue operations in the Mediterranean.

Defence Minister Simon Coveney said the naval operation was “playing a very effective role” in its work with the Italian Navy.

LE Eithne has rescued at least 88 migrants in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya - playing a very effective role with Italian Navy

— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) May 28, 2015

The Lé Eeithne departed on the 16th of May from Naval Service Headquarters in Haulbowline, Cork to assist the Italian Authorities in the humanitarian search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean. It could potentially be deployed to the Mediterranean for up to six months.