LÉ RÓISÍN has departed from Haulbowline in Cork for the Mediterranean to undertake a search and rescue humanitarian mission with the Italian authorities.
Commanded by Lieutenant Commander Ultan Finegan, the 57 strong crew of the LÉ RÓISÍN have been completing pre-deployment training and preparing the ship for an extended deployment since receiving notice to sail. This is the first Naval Service deployment to the Mediterranean under Operation PONTUS in 2016.
Photo: (Irish Defence Forces)
A total of 8,592 people have been rescued by Defence Forces personnel that crewed LÉ Eithne, LÉ Niamh and LÉ Samuel Beckett during the course of their deployments to the Mediterranean last year.
LÉ RÓISÍN (P51) is a first-of-class offshore patrol vessel. It is one of the youngest ships in service in the Naval Service fleet, and is named after Róisín Dubh the embodiment of Ireland in the Irish poetic tradition.
LÉ RÓISÍN departed from Cork at midday.
