A multi-agency search is continuing off the northwest coast tonight after a UK naval support crew member was reported missing this morning.
The Coast Guard's Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Malin Head received a distress alert from a UK Naval support vessel before 9am.
The alert was for a missing crew member on board who was last seen around 10.30pm last night.
The vessel was located north of the island of Toraigh off Co Donegal when the alert was raised.
A spokesperson from the Department of Transport said air assets from the Irish Coast Guard, RNLI life boats, assets from the Irish Air Corps, the Irish Naval Service, and the UK's Royal Navy and Air Force will continue to search the area overnight and will continue to monitor weather and search conditions.
The Malin Head Coast Guard is co-ordinating the search off the northwest coast between Toraigh and Oileán sa Tuaidh off Béal an Mhuirthead in north west Co Mayo.
The search from the air is being conducted by the Irish Coast Guard’s fixed-wing plane, Rescue 120F, based in Shannon Airport; Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 118, based in Sligo; and the Irish Air Corps plane CASA 284.
The search is also being co-ordinated at sea by the UK Naval support vessel and three RNLI all-weather lifeboats based at An Baile Glas, Árainn Mhór and Lough Swilly, alongside other vessels.
A UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "Following an incident involving an individual from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary off the coast of Ireland, the Royal Navy is assisting in a search and rescue operation led by the Irish authorities with assistance from the RNLI."
