ATHENS (AFP) -- Greek maritime police on Saturday arrested two crew members from a boat that brought 55 clandestine immigrants to the island of Evia in the Aegean Sea.

The immigrants, 12 of them children, all arrived safely and in good health and were transferred to the immigration centre in Evia's capital Halkida, Greece's commercial fishing ministry said in a statement. The ministry added that it was continuing to search for immigrants.

The 15-metre (50-foot) yacht was picked up by a patrol boat off the east coast of Evia.

The Aegean Sea is commonly used by immigrants from the west coast of Turkey heading for western Europe.