An Irish trawler has sunk at a port in Norway.
The MFV Paula, based at Killybegs, Co Donegal, sank at around 6.30 a.m. local time this morning in the port of Selje, in the west of Norway.
Mr Sean O'Donoghue, chief executive of the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation, told ireland.comit was not yet clear what had happened but he said all the crew were safe.
"That was the most important thing," he said. The crew are all understood to be from Killybegs.
It is understood the boat docked last night with a catch of mackerel. On-board alarms alerted the crew to an intake of water early this morning and they all escaped safely.
The authorities in Norway are investigating the cause of the accident.
The 58-metre trawler is understood to be valued at around €15 million. Mr O'Donoghue indicated that its loss would be an economic blow to the Killybegs area.
He said fishing conditions had been very difficult since the beginning of January due to weather conditions. Trawlers had only been able to get out to sea after Christmas, he said.