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| Major search after ship overturns off north of Scotland | Major search after ship overturns off north of Scotland |
| (about 4 hours 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. |
| The search has now been called off for the night, but the Maritime and Coastguard Agency says a tug will still illuminate the area and warn shipping, until the operation resumes on Sunday. | |
| Four lifeboats, two rescue helicopters and other vessels are involved in the search 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 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. | 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. |
| Brise of Hamburg, managers of the Cemfjord, said in a statement that the crew consisted of seven Poles and a Filipino. | |
| It added: "No distress call was received from the vessel. Bad weather prevailed in the area at the time and conditions remain difficult at the scene, with storm force winds. | |
| "The company is in the process of informing the families." | |
| Darkness | Darkness |
| According to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, they reported no survivors in the immediate vicinity. | 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. | 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. | 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 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." | "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." | He added: "I don't know what happened after that and I don't think anyone does to tell you the truth." |