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Updated: 11:00, Sunday, 27 November 2011
A body has been recovered from the Irish Sea off Holyhead during a search operation for six crew members missing from a cargo vessel, which sunk in the early hours of this morning.
Search and rescue operation is under way
The Waterford-based Irish Coastguard helicopter has recovered a body from the Irish Sea off Holyhead.
The Waterford and Dublin-based helicopters have been assisting in the search for survivors of the 'Swanland' cargo ship, which sank in the early hours of this morning.
Two crew members were taken from the water around two hours after the alarm was raised at 2am.
A search is continuing for five other crew members.
The 'Swanland', went down approximately 80kms southeast of Dublin, off Wales' Bardsey Island.
The two crew members were found at around 4am and winched aboard a rescue helicopter before being taken to an RAF base in Anglesey.
The coastguard is still reporting very difficult conditions in the area, with high winds and rough seas.
A coastguard official said the 81-metre cargo carrier was carrying 3,000 tones of limestone and it appears its hull cracked.
Lifeboat crews from RNLI Phwllheli and Porthdinllaen along with four search and rescue helicopters and two other commercial boats, are assisting in the search.
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