Major search operation underway after fishing boat sinks off Louth coast
One person was recovered from the water by a local vessel and brought to Greenore Harbour
A major search and rescue operation was launched in Carlingford Lough this afternoon after a fishing vessel sank near Greencastle Point, Co Down.
One person was recovered from the water by a local vessel and brought to Greenore Harbour, where they were transferred into the care of HSE paramedics.
An operation remains ongoing to locate and recover a second person from the casualty vessel.
Shortly after 12.30pm, the Irish Coast Guard’s Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in Dublin received a report from a member of the public that a fishing boat was in difficulty and sinking in the lough.
The response is being coordinated by MRCC Belfast, with the Irish Coast Guard’s Rescue 116 helicopter from Dublin and the Greenore Coast Guard Unit among the emergency resources tasked to the scene.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said:
“Shortly after 12:30pm today, the Irish Coast Guard’s Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in Dublin received a report from a member of the public that a fishing vessel was sinking in Carlingford Lough near Greencastle Point, Co. Down.
“The Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in Belfast are co-ordinating the response to this incident. As part of this response, the Irish Coast Guard’s helicopter Rescue 116, based in Dublin, and the Greenore Coast Guard Unit were tasked by MRCC Dublin to the scene.
“One person has been recovered from the sunken vessel by a local boat and transferred into the care of HSE paramedics at Greenore harbour. There is still an ongoing operation to recover another person from the casualty vessel.”