Royal Fleet Auxiliary Crew Member Missing Off Irish Coast

A crew member aboard the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker RFA Tidesurge has been declared missing after reportedly falling overboard late on Friday night while the ship was operating off the north-west coast of Ireland. The alarm was raised shortly afterwards, prompting an urgent, large-scale search involving the Irish Coast Guard, the Irish Air Corps, the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and RNLI lifeboat teams.

The search covered challenging waters between Tory Island in County Donegal and Eagle Island in County Mayo, an area known for strong currents and unpredictable weather. Despite extensive air and sea sweeps carried out throughout Saturday and into Sunday, authorities were unable to locate the missing individual. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the operation has now been stood down, and the crew member’s family has been notified.

Officials have not released the name of the missing sailor, and the circumstances that led to the overboard incident remain under investigation. Early reports suggest no other crew members are missing or injured. As part of the Royal Navy’s support fleet, the RFA’s civilian crews are responsible for delivering essential fuel, supplies and logistics during operations — work that often places them in remote and hazardous environments.

The incident has raised concern across the naval community, highlighting the risks faced by sailors during routine maritime duties, especially in rough offshore conditions. Maritime authorities have confirmed that a formal inquiry will examine safety procedures, weather conditions and onboard protocols to determine how the crew member disappeared and whether any preventive measures may be needed going forward.

Support has poured in for the missing crew member’s family and colleagues, with many acknowledging the demanding nature of auxiliary naval service and the emotional toll such incidents bring.