UK Coastguard were alerted to the incident early this morning.

A major search operation is underway for a female passenger who is believed to have gone overboard on a ferry travelling from Pembroke to Rosslare overnight. The woman is believed to have fallen into the Irish Sea from the ‘Isle of Inishmore’ cruise ferry in the early hours of Friday morning. The ferry is currently in Rosslare having left Pembroke on Thursday evening. In a statement, UK Coastguard said: “The UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at St Athan and an Irish Coast Guard helicopter are currently searching the area along with HM Coastguard Llansteffan, Tenby and St Govans Coastguard Rescue Teams and the Angle Lifeboat RNLI (inshore and all weather) and a Port Authority vessel. Dyfed Powys Police and the Dublin An Garda Síochána are also involved in the search operation. “A Mayday relay broadcast has been issued by UK Coastguard for all vessels passing through the area. So far nothing has been found. The search operation is continuing and we have no further information to release at this stage.” A spokesperson for the Irish Coast Guard said that they are assisting the UK Coastguard with the search, having sent rescue helicopter 117, based out of Waterford, to assist the search after the alarm was raised at approximately 9am on Friday morning.