The search was continuing in gale force conditions last night for the five crew of a Wexford fishing vessel which was reported missing as it returned to Dunmore East, Co Waterford.
Four of the crew of the 20-metre twin rig trawler, Pere Charles, are from Kerry and Wexford, while one is an East European man.
Crowds of friends, relatives and other locals gathered at the harbour late last night.
The owner of the vessel, Michael Walsh, who joined in the search off Hook Head, told The Irish Times he "hoped and prayed that they took to a life raft", as the vessel's safety equipment was replaced and checked only a week ago.
The Pere Charles left early yesterday morning to fish for herring, skippered by Thomas Hennessy, a man in his early 30s from Kerry who has been living in Dunmore East. Also on board was his uncle, Pat Hennessy, who is in his 50s. Billy O'Connor and Pat Coady, who is in his mid-20s, were also on board. They are both from Dunmore East.
Mr Walsh, who bought the French-built steel vessel last year, spoke to the crew by telephone at 5.45pm yesterday.
"We had the lorries ready, the boat was coming in to land the fish after a quick trip out to get herring, and one of the crewmen's partners had the dinner on," he said.
The vessel was also in radio contact with a partner vessel, the Suzanna G, according to Joe Maddock, chairman of the Irish Fishermen's Organisation (IFO).
Mr Walsh said he was told just after 6pm that "there was something wrong", as the vessel's emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) had been picked up.
Valentia Coast Radio said that the EPIRB, which normally activates on contact with water, began emitting signals giving a position about two miles south of Hook Head. No Mayday had been issued.
Emergency services were alerted, and some debris was spotted by the Waterford Sikorsky helicopter within an hour.
The Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay lifeboats and a number of Waterford and Wexford vessels put to sea to assist in the search in gale to storm force southwesterly winds and a big swell. The Dublin Coast Guard helicopter also joined the Waterford Sikorsky in aerial sweeps of the sea area south and east of Hook Head. Mr Walsh said his boat had been fully surveyed, has a shelterdeck, and its life rafts had only been replaced last week.
"The hydrostatic emergency release systems for the life rafts were checked and working, so I just hope and pray that they did manage to take to a life raft," Mr Walsh said.
"I am in total shock, I have no idea what happened, but the vessel was carrying fish."
