THE IRISH Coast Guard and Naval Service are hoping an improvement in conditions will today allow divers to examine the wreck of a sunken trawler off the west Cork coast in the hope of finding five missing fishermen.
The search for the five Tit Bonhommecrewmen was hampered yesterday by strong winds and rough seas, which prevented divers from diving on the wreck near Adam Island at the entrance to Glandore Harbour.
Strong southeasterly winds blowing into the harbour whipped up two-metre swells, which made it too dangerous for a joint Naval Service/Garda Water Unit team to dive on the vessel, located on the western side of Adam Island.
Gerard O'Flynn of the Irish Coast Guard told The Irish Timesit was hoped a change to southwesterly winds today would allow divers to investigate the wreck.Such a change would mean swells would reduce near the wreck, as it lies in the lee of a headland on the western side of Glandore Harbour.
Families of the missing men spent a frustrating morning on the pier side at Union Hall yesterday hoping for better weather.
Relatives of skipper Michael Hayes (52) and crewmen Kevin Kershaw (21), Said Mohammed (23), Wael Mohammed (35) and Attea Ahmed Shaban (26) gathered on the pier for a third consecutive day as they waited for news.
Mr Hayes is from Helvick Head in Waterford and Mr Kershaw is from Dublin. The other three crewmen are from Egypt.
Relatives of some of the missing men became very frustrated. It is understood relatives of some of the Egyptian men brought in a commercial Egyptian diver to examine the vessel, but he was dissuaded from going down as it was too dangerous.
Lieut Cdr Paddy Harkin of the LE Niamh, which is helping to co-ordinate the sea search operation, declared a 100m exclusion zone around the wreck of the Tit Bonhommeto prevent anyone attempting to dive on it.
Relatives were later brought out to the wreck location. Local sources say when they saw the turbulent sea around Adam Island they accepted how dangerous it would be for divers to try to examine the boat.
Fishermen yesterday reported the aluminium wheelhouse of the 21m steel-hulled boat had been virtually demolished by the repeated battering against the rocks it received since sinking at about 6am on Sunday morning.
It is understood the sole survivor, Abdul Mohammed (43), also from Egypt, was swept out the door of the wheelhouse and, despite suffering a broken collarbone, swam almost half a mile to shore, where he was rescued by Toe Head Irish Coast Guard boat.
Searchers hope the remains of the five men may be on board the sunken vessel, though they are puzzled as to why no bodies have been found on the surface if the men had the chance to put on life jackets with flotation devices, as some reports have suggested.
Baltimore and Courtmasherry RNLI Lifeboats yesterday continued a search with local trawlers. Smaller craft crewed by locals searched caves and inlets in the harbour where debris from the vessel has been found.
Bishop of Cork and Ross Dr John Buckley led locals in a multidenominational prayer service on the pier side last night and paid tribute to the local community for their help and support over the past three days.
Earlier yesterday, a Muslim prayer service was lead by religious leader Aymen Essa.
Cork-based Muslim religious leader Morad Gharib said the Egyptian community was deeply moved by the level of support offered locally.
“We have lost three Egyptian men, one of them is my first cousin and two of them are friends and family and neighbours. We are very sad to be here in Union Hall on this very terrible occasion. I cannot believe the support, all the local people from Union Hall came out here and helped us and looked after us, it’s unbelievable – we hope we find the bodies at least so that we can give our families and friends somewhere to go to.”