The Irish Naval vessel LÉ Samuel Beckett has rescued almost 220 people off the Libyan coast.
At around 5am Irish time, the ship located a 12-metre rubber vessel with 85 people on board around 40 miles north east of Tripoli.
A short time later, a similar craft with 133 people on board was found.
All 218 migrants are on board the LE Samuel Beckett, 97 men, 30 women - one of whom is pregnant - and six children.
The Irish vessel, and its predecessors in the area, LE Eithne and LE Niamh, have between them rescued around 8,000 refugees in the Mediterranean.
On 5 October LÉ Samuel BEckett rescued 242 persons from a wooden craft 93 Kilometers North West of Tripoli and subsequently embarked a further 232 persons from another rescue vessel bringing them to the port of Vibo in Itlay.
On 15 October the LÉ SAMUEL BECKETT rescued 102 persons from an inflatable craft 50 Km North East of Tripoli.
