The Lé Eithne was previously deployed to the Mediterranean in 2015.

The Lé Eithne was previously deployed to the Mediterranean in 2015.

AN IRISH NAVAL vessel carrying 72 crew will deploy to the Mediterranean today in the seventh such Irish mission as part of the ongoing humanitarian effort in the region.

The LÉ Eithne was the first vessel to deploy in 2015 and it will return to the Mediterranean this week after it launches from the naval base in Haulbowline, Co Cork.

During the vessel’s previous deployment, 3,377 migrants were rescued attempting to make the crossing from Africa to Europe.

In total, 15,621 people have been brought to shore by the Irish Naval Service during six previous missions to the region.

The 72 crew members on board this latest deployment are made up of 70 people from the Naval Services and two medics from the Air Corps and Army.

In each of the last two years there were three separate missions each year, usually concentrated around the summer months when migrant crossings are most frequent.

Each mission usually lasts for 9-12 weeks.

This latest deployment by the 80m Lé Eithne is the first of 2017 and Defence Minister Paul Kehoe will be present for today’s departure.