A major air and sea search for a 52-year-old man who was reported missing from a ferry which docked in Belfast early this morning has been abandoned.
The alarm was raised when the Lagan Viking service - travelling from Heysham, Lancashire, to Belfast - reported a man missing, suspected overboard after it docked in Belfast shortly before 6am.
Two army helicopters, lifeboats and a number of other boats and ferries were taking part in the search of the Irish Sea.
Mr Ian Murdock, watch manager at Belfast coastguard, said the authorities were becoming increasingly concerned for the man's safety.
"Even though sea conditions this morning are excellent, it's calm with no wind - excellent for searching, we've found nothing," he said.
"Life expectancy for a healthy man in 10 degrees temperature of water would be approximately a maximum of three-and-a-half hours, that time has long expired."
PA