The LÉ Eithne has rescued almost 600 migrants off the Libyan coast.

Rescue operations began at 4am Irish time, when 101 migrants were taken from a rubber craft around 50 nautical miles north west of Tripoli.

It quickly launched into five more rescues, which were all completed within nine hours.

496 of those rescued were men, along with 92 women and five children.

Excluding this morning's rescues, the LÉ Eithne has rescued 2,136 migrants since it departed Naval Service Headquarters in Haulbowline, Cork last month.

Almost 2,000 people have drowned in the waters of the Mediterranean between Africa and Europe so far this year, as they attempted to flee war-torn countries.

The advent of summer has brought calmer water conditions and with them an increase in the numbers willing to attempt the perilous journey.