Wicklow all-weather RNLI lifeboat launched shortly before 11 pm this morning (Tuesday, 6 October) to assist in a multi-agency search for a missing person from a Dublin – Holyhead ferry.
Fifteen minutes after launching Wicklow lifeboat was re-tasked by the Coast Guard to assist a fishing vessel with machinery failure south of Greystones. The lifeboat under the command of Coxswain Nick Keogh located the stricken fishing vessel off Kilcoole at 11:20 am. Conditions at the scene were sea state moderate, with northwesterly wind force four.
A towline was quickly established, and the ten-metre fishing boat was taken in tow back to Wicklow harbour, where the four fishermen were landed safely ashore at lunchtime.
After refuelling and a crew change, Wicklow lifeboat returned to sea to resume a search for the missing sailor off the Wicklow Coast. The operation which involved RNLI lifeboats from Ireland and Wales, Coast Guard helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft from the Irish Air Corps and UK Coastguard, carried out a co-ordinated search covering a large area of the Irish sea.
The multi-agency operation ended late on Tuesday afternoon and Wicklow lifeboat returned to Station.