An Armed Forces of Malta offshore patrol vessel yesterday rescued 105 illegal immigrants off the high seas of the Mediterranean, after their large rubber dinghy developed engine trouble during their journey northwards.

The Maritime Squadron’s Diciotti-class P-61 OPV was conducting a routine FRONTEX patrol as part of joint-operation Nautlius 2009, when it was diverted to a position south-west of Malta. The rubber-dinghy had been earlier in the day sighted by an AFM Air Wing Islander aircraft.

Once the rubber-dinghy was located by P-61, it was established that the drifting illegal migrants were made up of 85 men and 20 women, who are claiming to be from Eritrea. The illegal immigrants were transferred onboard P-61, and were brought to shore yesterday evening.