This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-30667084
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Major search after ship overturns off north of Scotland | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A major search operation has been launched after a vessel overturned off the north of Scotland. | A major search operation has been launched after a vessel overturned off the north of Scotland. |
Eight people are reported to have been on board the Cypriot-registered Cemfjord, a cargo ship carrying cement. | Eight people are reported to have been on board the Cypriot-registered Cemfjord, a cargo ship carrying cement. |
The upturned hull was found by a passing ferry in the Pentland Firth. | The upturned hull was found by a passing ferry in the Pentland Firth. |
Four lifeboats, two rescue helicopters and other vessels are searching for the crew. Shetland Coastguard is co-ordinating rescue efforts. | Four lifeboats, two rescue helicopters and other vessels are searching for the crew. Shetland Coastguard is co-ordinating rescue efforts. |
The NorthLink ferry Hrossey also took part in the early stages of the operation. | The NorthLink ferry Hrossey also took part in the early stages of the operation. |
The 83m Cemfjord had been sailing to Runcorn in Cheshire. | |
The last confirmed sighting of the vessel was at about 13:00 on Friday. It is understood the alarm was raised by the crew of the ferry Hrossey at 14:30 on Saturday. | |
Darkness | |
According to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, they reported no survivors in the immediate vicinity. | |
As darkness fell, lifeboats from Stromness, Scrabster, Longhope and Wick were searching the area along with the helicopters, the Shetland coastguard aircraft and an RAF rescue helicopter. | |
Bill Farquhar from the Wick RNLI station said: "We got a call this afternoon about two o'clock that the Shetland ferry - the Hrossey - she had spotted the hull of a coaster upside down 10 miles east of Pentland Skerries. | |
"The last known position on marine traffic was at quarter past one yesterday, so that was the last known position we had of the ship. | |
"The weather at that time yesterday was pretty, pretty, bad." | |
He added: "I don't know what happened after that and I don't think anyone does to tell you the truth." |