IRISH AND French authorities are to carry out a joint investigation into the sinking of the sail training vessel Asgard II in the Bay of Biscay early yesterday morning.
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) confirmed it would be co-operating with its French counterpart on the inquiry into the sinking, as the vessel was Irish-flagged but sank in French waters.
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea said that if it was not possible to salvage the vessel, his department would examine the possibility of "recreating" it. Insurance would cover the cost, but it would depend on whether necessary skills and expertise were available, he said in Cork.
An MCIB spokesman said it was too early to speculate on the cause, but interviews would be held with the ship's master, crew and trainees.
All 25 on board, 21 of whom are Irish, were rescued by two French lifeboats at about 4.30am yesterday after its master, Capt Colm Newport, gave the orders to abandon ship.
The sail training brigantine, designed by Jack Tyrrell of Arklow and commissioned in 1981, was en route from Falmouth in Cornwall to La Rochelle when a bilge alarm sounded at about 2am Irish time, denoting the ship was taking water.
The ship was due to participate in Le Grand Pavois festival. The Asgard II was due to have maintenance work carried out in the French port.
"We were about 12 miles to the west of the island of Belle-Ile, in a southwesterly wind of force five to six, good sea conditions," Capt Newport said. "We had a very fast ingress of water into the hull. We were unable to trace its source. I had to make the decision to abandon ship."
The 20 trainees filled three liferafts in four to five minutes, and Capt Newport and two crew stayed on board for about 20 minutes to maintain radio contact with rescue services. "When we got off, she was a floating hulk. She was awash," he said.
The 25 survivors were taken by lifeboats to Belle-Ile, where Irish Ambassador to France Anne Anderson and consul Andrew Noonan met them. Arrangements were being made yesterday for flights home from Paris.
Mr O'Dea, who is chairman of Coiste an Asgard, which has responsibility for the State-owned vessel, said the cause was still unknown. "The main thing is that people are safe and well and that they were evacuated safely and quickly."
He paid tribute to the French Coast Guard for its tremendous effort, and said any report would be made public.
