Vessels, including the Republic’s Naval Service patrol ship LE Ciara, continue to search the waters as does the helicopter crew and Coast Guard personnel.

Yesterday morning the Zenith and its five remaining crew returned to Kilkeel harbour, where Kilkeel Fishermen’s Mission official, Superintendent Maurice Lake, briefly spoke with the boat’s skipper and several other crew.

Describing the “grey mood” hanging over the fishing town, Mr Lake explained that as soon as word reached Kilkeel of the accident local people began to congregate at the RNLI boathouse, listening in on radio broadcasts as the search got underway.

Just a few hours later, Mr Lake explained, prayers were offered at Mourne Presbyterian Church’s annual fishermen’s service, for the missing man, his family and friends and for the Zenith’s remaining crew.

“There was certainly a subdued atmosphere during the service, which is understandable. The boat is owned by a well known local family, and everyone in the town seems to know at least one person who works on it; everyone in one sense or another is affected.

“My heart goes out to all those who are connected with the vessel, and the entire fishing community in general; it seems to rally round and support one another as best it can.”

Supt Lake explained that six men were onboard the vessel when tragedy struck.

Two of the men, including the deckhand feared drowned, are foreign nationals who subsequently settled in Kilkeel so they could work in the local fishing industry.

“Everyone involved in the search wants to find this man sooner rather than later. The crews are finding this very frustrating; they just want to bring his body home which, to a degree, will give some closure.

“There is a terrible mood hanging over the town, but whatever differences there are during the normal course of life, the fishing community has come together as one in this terrible hour of need,” he added.

Mr Lake concluded by saying that his thoughts and prayers are with the missing man’s family, the Zenith’s crew and proprietor and all those involved in the search operation.