At 9:30 an, the Spanish unit was warned of the presence of a wooden vessel with a large number of people on-board, to the north-west of the Libyan town of Misrata, some 260 kilometres from the position of the Spanish vessel.
When the frigate drew close to its target, the vessel that had gone adrift was in an emergency situation and taking on water.
The rescue operation of those on-board began immediately, using the frigate's rigid inflatable boats (RIBs). Speedboats from an NGO vessel "Open Arms", which was close by, also provided assistance in the operation.
The rescue operation ended at 4:35 pm, with a total of 330 migrants taken on-board (17 children, 95 women - three of which were pregnant - and 218 men).
They will all be transferred to the Italian authorities at an as yet unknown port, off the coast of Sicily, towards which the Spanish frigate has set sail.
Non official translation
Ministerio de Defensa