Europe's only private rescue mission vessel left Malta this afternoon in a bid to reduce the number of migrant deaths in the Mediterranean.

The Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) teamed up this year with Médecins Sans Frontières for a six-month mission intended to tackle a humanitarian crisis.

MOAS's vessesl, the Phoenix last year saved a staggering 3,000 lives.

In a short ceremony prior to its departure from the Bezzina Ship Repair Yard, MOAS director Martin Xuereb said the boat’s second mission was in itself a milestone.

“Until last year, MOAS was a non-entity but now we come to tell the world a story. We are no longer paper tigers but we are playing an active part in saving lives at sea,” he said.

Brigadier Xuereb, formerly the head of the Armed Forces of Malta, said the organisation was this year better equipped and ready to face a tougher challenge than last year’s.

“This year’s numbers speak for themselves. The pattern is also different. This year we should not only talk about the pull factor – how Europe is attracting these migrants - but also about the push factor - the reasons why these people are being forced to leave their countries.”

The vessel is equipped with a €1 million state-of-the-art drone that is used to locate migrant boats.

Brig. Xuereb thanked MOAS founders Christopher and Regina Catrambone, without whose passion and perseverance the mission would not have materialised.

Médecins Sans Frontières Emergency coordinator Will Turner said the organisation’s business was to treat victims of violence, hunger and disease all around the world.

“700 people died last week and this is equivalent to a warzone. We expected action to be taken yet the rhetoric focuses more on smugglers and borders. The real focus should be on saving lives.”

Mr Turner said migrants are people who are fleeing their countries out of despair. “It is our business to save lives and alleviate their suffering. This is where we turn words into action.”

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil visited the ship shortly before its departure and said this initiative should serve as a lesson to Europe, which needed to act over the migration problem.