LAST UPDATE | 2 Jun

A SEARCH IS underway at Carlingford Lough between Co Louth and Co Down after a fishing boat sank this afternoon. 

One person has been rescued and emergency responders are still attempting to recover a second person from the vessel.

The sunken vessel is the Jas Josephine, a small fishing boat registered in Newry and based at Carlingford Marina. 

Members of the Coast Guard during the search operation at Calingford Lough. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Irish Coast Guard and RNLI rescue boats have attended the scene, as has Coast Guard’s Dublin-based helicopter.

The boat sank within two minutes off Greenore, local Sinn Féin councillor and member of the Cooley community alert group Fiona Mhic Conchoille told The Journal. 

A map showing the last reported position of the boat (circled) MarineTraffic MarineTraffic

The alarm was raised when a member of the public contacted the Irish Coast Guard’s Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Dublin shortly after 12.30pm today. 

Members of the Coast Guard and An Garda Síochána look on during the search operation. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

“As part of this response, the Irish Coast Guard’s helicopter Rescue 116, based in Dublin, and the Greenore Coast Guard Unit were tasked by MRCC Dublin to the scene,” a spokesperson for the Department of Transport said. 

“One person has been recovered from the sunken vessel by a local boat and transferred into the care of HSE paramedics at Greenore harbour. There is still an ongoing operation to recover another person from the casualty vessel,” the spokesperson said. 

Members of Dundalk Sub Aqua search and rescue prepare to join a rescue operation Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Kilkeel RNLI launched its Atlantic 85 lifeboat at 1pm, an RNLI spokesperson told The Journal.

The UK coast guard is also involved in the search operation.