An engineer on a cargo ship is feared drowned after going missing in the Irish Sea.
The man (22) was reported missing this morning as the boat headed south past Arklow off the coast of Co Wicklow.
Coast Guard helicopters from Waterford and Dublin were involved in the search with RNLI crews.
The man from Slovakia was last seen on the boat at 10pm last night as it headed south a few miles off the entrance to Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland.
Coast Guard officials said the alarm was raised at 8.45am.
Lifeboats from Portaferry and Newcastle in Northern Ireland were assisting in the search operation. An RAF helicopter based at Prestwick in Scotland was also involved.
The Defence Forces said the LE Ciara and a CASA Maritime Surveillance aircraft also joined the search for the missing crewman.
The LE Ciara, which is co-ordinating the search between the Defence Forces, the Irish Coast Guard and UK teams, is also shadowing the Antiguan registered vessel Sehn Sirius as it retraces the route it took from south to north.
PA