French and Italian warships and the Armed Forces of Malta went to the rescue of an Italian fishing vessel, Giuseppe Castano, which was taking in water and sinking about 52 nautical miles south west off Malta yesterday.

The operation was coordinated by the AFM's Rescue Coordination Centre at Luqa Barracks.

An AFM spokesman said last night the Giuseppe Castano was being towed to Lampedusa with three AFM pump operators on board.

The AFM said its coordination centre was informed in the afternoon that the Italian fishing vessel, with seven crew members on board, was fast taking in water and sinking.

An Italian Air Force AB212 helicopter based in Malta was scrambled as the Maritime Squadron's P-51 Protector-class patrol vessel sped to the Giuseppe Castano. Other fishing-vessels in the area offered assistance to the crew in distress.

As a nearby tug-boat was diverted by the Malta coordination centre to assist, the Italian warship Casiopea sent its AB212 helicopter to the scene. The French warship Surcouf, which also intercepted the distress call, placed its helicopter on standby.

Later in the afternoon it was established that the sinking fishing vessel did not require evacuation of the crew as a pump had been engaged to ease the flooding. Efforts were underway to identify the source of the water leak.

Last night the fishing boat was under tow by another aiding vessel heading for Lampedusa with three AFM soldiers onboard operating water-pumps.