LÉ Eithne has rescued a further 89 migrants 75 kilometres north of Libya, bringing the number of migrants on board the vessel tonight to 399.

Among those on board are 280 men, 78 women and 41 children.

It has been a busy 36-hour period for the vessel which has rescued a total of 1,064 people during seven rescue missions since departing from Cork on 16 May.

310 people were rescued this morning after LÉ Eithne located a barge in distress 30 miles north of Zuwarah.

Last night the Naval vessel transferred 105 people to the Italian ship The Fence, having rescued them north of Tripoli yesterday.

Minister for Defence Simon Coveney praised the Naval Service efforts saying "I would like to thank the crew of the LÉ Eithne for their outstanding work in the Mediterranean to date and to wish them continued success in their endeavours".

He also said the Naval Services will "continue to assist the Italian authorities in tackling this very difficult humanitarian crisis."

According to the UNHCR 90,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean so far in 2015, at least 1,850 have drowned or are missing at sea.