A Marshall Islands-registered tanker rescued 162 migrants in rough seas off Malta today and will bring them to the Mediterranean island, the Maltese armed forces said.
The migrants were rescued 59 nautical miles off Malta, after using a satellite telephone to seek assistance from the Maltese rescue services when their 10-metre boat ran into trouble.
The group included 28 women and a child, and was the second largest group to be brought to Malta in the last two weeks.
"Given the inclement weather, patrol boat P-51 encountered difficulties in its efforts to reach the position, and so the Marshall Islands's registered motor-tanker was requested to approach Malta," the armed forces said in a statement.
Malta picked up 139 illegal immigrants last month.
Malta has seen a record influx of migrants last year, despite following a strict detention policy which sees most migrants detained for 18 months.
Reuters