Updated Monday 7.15am

More than 6,000 migrants were rescued by warships in the central Mediterranean over the weekend, with 2,371 migrants picked up from 15 boats yesterday (Sunday) the Italian coast guard said. 

Migrant Offshore Aid Station (Moas) said that it coordinated several rescue operations and its ship, the Phoenix, was on its way to Augusta in Sicily to disembark some 372 people including 184 men, 126 women and 62 minors, mostly from Eritrea.

Moas, the only private search and rescue vessel, is now in its second year of providing emergency rescue. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) are providing post-rescue assistance, including medical care on board.

“This was the single largest back-to-back operation in which Phoenix was involved. Within minutes of locating one overcrowded vessel, we spotted another and then another. This kept happening until we found ourselves involved in the rescue of five boats carrying more than 2,000 migrants between them,” Lt Col (Rtd) Ian Ruggier, who was coordinating efforts on board the Phoenix, said.

Moas, which has been conducting humanitarian rescues since August 2014, has helped rescue more than 6,400 people.

Moas still needs to raise some €1.5 million to be able to complete its six month mission at sea this year. Donations are being received here.

Meanwhile, the UK Ministry of Defence said in a statement the HMS Bulwark launched a mission to rescue at least 500 migrants today.

The MoD said a helicopter had identified four migrant vessels in distress.

"HMS Bulwark has now commenced rescue operations to recover those in the vessels," the statement said.