6 missing, 2 rescued as ship sinks in Irish Sea

6 missing, 2 rescued as ship sinks in Irish Sea

Six seaman are missing today after a ship sank in the Irish Sea in gale-force winds.

Two other crewmen were rescued after the cargo vessel, the Swanland, made a Mayday call to the coastguard in Holyhead, north Wales, around 2am this morning.

The ship reported the hull was thought to have cracked in bad weather and was taking on water.

Two helicopters - one from RAF Valley in Angelsey where Prince William is based as a search and rescue co-pilot and another from Dublin Coastguard - were at the scene.


Lifeguard boats from Pwllheli and Porthdinllaen also raced to the area as two of the crew from the stricken vessel were plucked to safety from the rough seas.

They were winched aboard the RAF helicopter and flown back to the base. It was not known if Prince William is involved in the rescue operation.

The vessel is reported to have sunk 20 miles north-west of the tip of the Lleyn peninsula.The search for the missing men is still going on.

In August last year, the Swanland's engines failed and it came close to grounding on rocks off the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall.

According to one shipspotting website, the vessel was built in the Netherlands and is owned by a company, Torbulk, in Grimsby.

Jim Green, from Holyhead Coastguard, said: 'We are very concerned for the safety of the other six crew members.

'We know that at least some of them are wearing immersion suits and have strobe lighting with them, however sea conditions are challenging at best.'

He added that the 81-me

A spokesman at RAF Valley said she had little information on the condition of the rescued men, but added: ' I have heard they are okay.'

The coastguard reported very difficult conditions in the dark with rough seas and high winds.