The Marine Casualty Investigation Board is to carry out an inquiry into the sinking of an Irish-registered fishing vessel off the southeast coast.
All six crew on board the Skerries vessel, Darnette, were rescued by another fishing vessel some 50 miles southeast of Dunmore East after the 20-metre trawler began taking in water shortly after 9pm on Tuesday.
Dublin Coast Guard issued the alert when it picked up a Mayday message from the Darnette at 9.20pm. The Irish Coast Guard helicopter from Waterford, the Naval Service flagship, LE Eithne, an RAF Nimrod fixed-wing aircraft and an RAF helicopter from Chivenor responded, along with a number of vessels in the area.
The six crew, including skipper Richard Brannigan (27), had taken to the vessel's liferaft when the Susanna G, owned by Denis Harding of Dunmore East, arrived on scene and offered assistance.
The Susanna G had been fishing with the Pere Charles off the southeast last January before the latter vessel sank. Mr Harding and crew picked up the last message issued from the Pere Charles before it was lost, with all five hands.
The Waterford Sikorsky helicopter monitored the transfer of the six crewmen from the Darnette's lifecraft to the Susanna G. All opted to stay on board and return to Dunmore East early yesterday morning.
Mr Brannigan said yesterday he had no idea what caused the vessel to sink, but speculated that a trawl door might have damaged the hull while hauling gear.
