A large-scale search and rescue operation is currently in progress off the rugged north-west coast of Ireland after a crew member from a UK naval support vessel was reported missing.
Search Operation Launched
The alarm was raised on Saturday morning, 15 November 2025, when the Irish Coast Guard's Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Malin Head received a distress alert. The call came from a UK naval support vessel before 9am.
According to Ireland's Department of Transport, the missing crew member was last seen at approximately 10:30pm on Friday evening. The vessel was located north of Tory Island, off the coast of County Donegal, when the alert was initiated.
Multi-Agency Response Underway
A significant multi-agency effort is now focused on locating the missing individual. The Irish Coast Guard is co-ordinating the complex search operation across a substantial area of sea between Tory Island in County Donegal and Eagle Island in County Mayo.
The air search involves multiple aircraft, including the Coast Guard's fixed-wing plane Rescue 120F from Shannon Airport, the Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 based in Sligo, and the Irish Air Corps plane, CASA 284.
At sea, the search is being conducted by the UK naval support vessel itself and three RNLI all-weather lifeboats from the Ballyglass, Arranmore Island, and Lough Swilly stations. Other vessels of opportunity have also joined the extensive search effort in the challenging marine environment.
Ongoing Efforts
The search continues as agencies work against time to locate the missing Royal Navy crew member. The circumstances surrounding the individual's disappearance remain unclear at this stage.
This developing situation highlights the close co-operation between Irish and UK rescue services in responding to maritime emergencies in these often-treacherous waters.
