The Naval patrol vessel Le Emer has arrived to co-ordinate the search for two fishermen missing off the north Dublin Coast.
A specialist team of eight Naval Service divers arrived on scene yesterday in Skerries where the search for two fishermen, Ronan Browne (26) and David Gilsenan (41), who have been missing since Friday.
The two men were last seen on Friday at about noon as they left Skerries harbour in Mr Browne's 5m (17ft) open-top fishing vessel, Lady Linda. They were going to check on lobster pots just east of St Patrick's Island and it is thought they got into difficulty as winds picked up in the afternoon.
The alarm was raised at about 6pm that evening when they failed to return. The upturned vessel was found at 11am on Saturday off Clogherhead, near the river Boyne in Co Louth.
Navy and Garda divers, Coast Guard staff, volunteer lifeboat crews and local fishing vessels are taking part in the search. They will be backed up by another specialist Naval dive unit from Le Emer for a search around the islands off Skerries.
Dozens of local trawlermen have spent the last five days scanning the vast sea area from Howth to Carlingford for any sign of the missing men, who are feared drowned. Family members and friends have also joined in a coastal land search for the missing men, combing inlets and bays.
Small items of clothing belonging to the men were discovered on Sunday morning on land at Braymore point, north of Skerries, according to the Irish Coast Guard.
A Coast Guard unit from Newcastle, Co Down, is also due to join in the search along the eastern Northern Ireland coastline.
An account has been opened at the Bank of Ireland branch in the town in the name of Lady Linda - the name of the boat the men were fishing from - to accept donations.
Mr Browne (26) and his wife of six months Linda live in Skerries. Mr Gilsenan (41) and wife Suzanne have two young children, aged six and nine, and live in the nearby village of Rush. Both were qualified marine engineers and experienced fishermen.