The Cork division of the Irish Coast Guard has begun to carry out a rescue operation for a fishing vessel that suffered a loss of power.
The ELLIE ADHAMH is being towed towards Bantry by the Naval ship LE George Bernard Shaw after it suffered a loss of power around 70 miles west of Bantry Bay on Friday morning.
The Coast Guard Rescue Coordination centre at Valentia is coordinating the rescue operation, sending a Coast Guard helicopter to the scene of the adrift vessel.
An effort was made to tow it in yesterday, but the rough waters led to difficulties and one of the tow vessels was hit by a 10m wave that put its windows out.
The Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat was also alerted and is monitoring the tow. Rescue 115 is also at the scene, while Waterford's Rescue 117 was also deployed.
The tow is expected to reach Bantry Bay later this evening, where arrangements will be made to have the vessel taken into port.
The crew declined an offer to have some of them evacuated from the vessel and remained on board overnight.
Weather conditions overnight were challenging but the crew are reported to be in good spirits, according to a statement from the Irish Coast Guard.
A Coast Guard helicopter also transferred water pumps onto the vessel owing to the loss of power on the vessel.
The Irish Navy told Cork Beo, "Le George Bernard Shaw remained with the fishing vessel overnight as a tow operation was not achievable in the Weather Conditions at that time.
"At first light this morning, Irish Coast Guard Helo R117 deployed to the location with communications equipment which was lowered to the Crew of the Fishing Vessel, Le George Bernard Shaw then established Comms with the fishing vessel and attempted to tow.
"Weather conditions at the time hampered this operation."
