Creel boat found amid search for vessel

TEAMS searching for a missing fishing vessel and its one-person crew have found a creel boat on the seabed.

A creel boat has been found amid a coastguard search for a missing vessel. Picture: PA

• 26ft creel boat discovered on seabed after search for missing vessel and one-man crew

• Call received by coastguard yesterday afternoon alerting to boat “going over”

An emergency mayday call was made to Stornoway Coastguard yesterday at 1pm with the message that the boat was “going over”.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said that a 26ft creel boat was located during today’s search - which resumed at 6.30am - and an underwater camera will be used to examine the wreck.

Fred Caygill, of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said: “Oban lifeboat and other fishing vessels continue to search the immediate area from the sea.

“A police helicopter was used this morning to search from the air and Oban Coastguard Rescue Team continue with the shore search.

“The police dispatched an underwater dive unit to the area and they will be working with our local coastguard boat MCA Hawk to go out to the site where it is believed a vessel has been identified.

“We have located some flotsam believed to be from the vessel. It’s a 26ft one-man fishing vessel commonly known as a creel boat.

“A local gentleman has offered his assistance to the authorities with an underwater camera (ROV) which has been accepted.”