At least 65 migrants, including women and children, fleeing Libya to Europe on a crowded, wooden boat were rescued by an Italian offshore supply vessel on over the weekend.

The migrant boat was drifting after its engine stopped working and was spotted by the Seabird, an NGO monitoring aircraft flying over the central Mediterranean.

Those on board were not wearing life vests and were eventually rescued in international waters by the Asso Ventinove supply vessel near the Bouri oilfield following a request to do so from the Seabird.

Tofik Abdul Nasir reports.