One of the largest fishing vessels in the world was detained by the Irish Naval Service north west of Tory Island, off the Donegal coast today.

The naval ship LÉ Roisín detained the Dutch registered vessel for alleged breaches of fishing regulations. It was detained shortly after 11am, approximately one hundred nautical miles north west of Tory Island and is expected into Killybegs this evening.

The vessel, the Annelies Ilena, is the largest ever detained by the Naval Service and considered one of the largest in the world. The 14,000 tonne vessel was first owned by Irish fishing magnate Kevin McHugh as the ‘Atlantic Dawn’.

It brings to 922 the number of boardings conducted this year by the Naval Service and this is the thirteenth vessel detained for alleged infringements of fisheries regulations in 2013.

The Dutch fishing vessel is currently under escort to Killybegs where it will be handed over to gardaí.

Journal Media