Crew of Donegal trawler rescued from sea as vessel sinks near Rockall Bank

The crew of a Donegal-based fishing trawler have been rescued from the sea after the vessel began sinking.

The Greencastle-based Sainte Catherine Laboure sunk around 220 nautical miles west of Barra in the Outer Hebrides on Thursday night.

The six crew abandoned the vessel after it began sinking and took to a liferaft. The trawler had been fishing for haddock near the Rockall Bank.  

A spokeswoman for HM Coastguard said an emergency position indicating radio beacon was received from a vessel with six people on board just after 10.50pm.

“The Irish-registered fishing vessel was reported to be sinking and the six people on board had abandoned to the liferaft, taking the beacon and communications equipment with them,” the spokeswoman said.

“Five vessels in the immediate local area were sent to assist. All six crew were recovered safe and well to a vessel. The vessel later sank and the vessel’s owners were informed. Counter Pollution was informed.”

It is understood that three of the six crew are from the Moville and Greencastle areas. The crew was being brought to the Scottish port of Ullapool on Friday and is expected to arrive there on Saturday.