A fishing vessel sank this morning after getting into difficulty off the coast of Co Clare. All five crew members were taken to safety by marine rescue services, before the boat sank.
The Western Explorerbegan to take in water shortly after 8 a.m. today. When the vessel's pumps were unable to remove the water, the skipper notified Malin Head Coast Guard, who co-ordinated a rescue operation.
Shannon's marine rescue helicopter was joined by the Aran Islands Lifeboat and another fishing vessel, the Westbound,at the scene. Four of the crew members were taken on board the Westbound.
Emergency pumping equipment was used but the boat's skipper, who had remained on board, was taken to safety after it became apparent efforts to save the vessel were failing. The Western Explorersank at 10.45 a.m., six miles west of Spanish Point.
The crew was taken to Shannon Airport by helicopter.
From Fenit, Co Kerry, the Western Explorerwas a locally-owned 54-foot wooden-hulled gill netter,
The Department of the Marine is to investigate the cause of the incident.