Fishermen rescued from sinking trawler
Six fishermen were today rescued from a sinking trawler in the Irish Sea.
The men were winched to safety off the stricken Arca, which is taking in water and listing in UK waters.
At about 8am this morning, Marine Coastguards in Ireland received a mayday call from its crew.
The 36-metre long steel hull vessel is about 30 miles south east of Carnsore Point, Co Wexford and 16 miles west of an area known as The Smalls, a group of islands off St Ann’s Head at the entrance of Milford Haven waterway, south west Wales.
It is believed the engine room has been flooded and the trawler has lost power.
A search and rescue helicopter from Waterford Airport was first to be sent to the scene and successfully lifted four men to safety.
Two crew members, who remained on board the Belgium-registered trawler to deal with the problem, were later rescued from the vessel.
None of the six men sustained any injuries and all were taken to Waterford Airport.
A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said two Royal Navy helicopters and the Angle RNLI from Pembrokeshire remain at the scene and are trying to pump water out of a vessel before deciding if it can be towed to safety.
