6 replies to this topic

[Steve Ellwood]

Courtesy of the Press Association

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Missing fisherman search resumes

(UKPA) – 2 hours ago

A search has resumed for a prawn fishing boat missing in the North Sea with one man on board.

Neil Smith, from Shetland, is the skipper of the 10-metre vessel Breadwinner which was reported overdue at Lerwick harbour just after 9pm on Thursday.

Shetland Coastguard helicopter and Lerwick RNLI lifeboat launched a search but found no trace of the boat. The search resumed at first light on Friday, focusing on the area to the east of the island of Bressay in Shetland where the boat usually fishes.

Sandy Wylie, duty watch manager at Shetland Coastguard, said: "We are now appealing to the public for any information as to his whereabouts. We know that he occasionally spends periods of time on his boat and has a bunk installed.

"We have been checking harbours and marinas around the islands overnight but with no result.

"Vessels are also checking the south side of the Outer Skerries, Whalsay, North Nesting, Moul of Eswick and Whalsay this morning."

The fisheries patrol aircraft Watchdog 64 and two other fishing vessels Guiding Light and Kestrel have joined the search.

Copyright © 2011 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

Is this the boat - Ally's photograph @

[Steve Ellwood]

This from FishUpdate @ http://www.fishupdat...ES_MISSING.html

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SHETLAND COASTGUARD APPEAL TO PUBLIC AFTER FISHERMAN GOES MISSING
Published:  21 January, 2011

Shetland Coastguard is appealing to the public for further information concerning a missing fisherman and Shetland resident, Neil Smith, and the whereabouts of his vessel prawn trawler ‘Breadwinner WY 367’.

The alarm was raised yesterday evening (Thursday January 20) at around 9.00 pm when the vessel had not returned to its normal berth in Lerwick harbour after leaving at 6.15 am from Morrison dock.

The Coastguard rescue helicopter from Sumburgh was scrambled to begin a search to Score Head, where the vessel was known to have been heading when it left Lerwick.

The weather last night on scene was southwesterly winds of force 5 to 6 with occasional rain, and a moderate sea. Sea temperature at this time of year is about 8 degrees C.

Information was received to suggest that the vessel was a regular visitor to Cunningsburgh and had last been seen in the area yesterday morning.

The local police have also been involved making inland enquiries.

Electronic broadcasts have been made throughout the night by Shetland Coastguard but so far nothing has been heard from Mr Smith. An electronic pan pan signal has also been broadcast drawing attention to other sea farers to watch out for the missing craft. Other vessels crews have also radioed in to the Coastguard asking how they can help.

Sandy Wylie, Duty Watch Manager at Shetland Coastguard said: "We have been checking and searching all night and so far no trace of Mr. Smith or his boat has come to light. The 10-metre vessel has dark blue topsides with a square stern, varnished hull, white wheelhouse with a yellow visor, gantry aft with net drum, deck to top of mast is about 10-12ft high.

"We are now appealing to the public for any information as to his whereabouts. We know that he occasionally spends periods of time on his boat and has a bunk installed. We have been checking harbours and marinas around the Islands overnight but with no result. Vessels are also checking the south side of the Outer Skerries, Whalsay, North Nesting, Moul of Eswick, Stepping Stones to Whalsay this morning with the Lerwick lifeboat being launched later to join the search. The fisheries patrol aircraft Watchdog 64 and two other fishing vessels ‘Guiding Light’ and ‘Kestrel’ have also joined the search.

If anyone has further information as to his whereabouts could they please phone Shetland Coastguard on 01595 692976.”

This from the MCA @ http://www.mcga.gov....9C84&m=1&y=2011

Press Notice No: 14/11
Friday, January 21, 2011
Posted 08:54 GMT

SHETLAND COASTGUARD APPEAL TO PUBLIC AFTER FISHERMAN GOES MISSING

Shetland Coastguard is appealing to the public for further information concerning a missing fisherman and Shetland resident, Neil Smith, and the whereabouts of his vessel prawn trawler Breadwinner WY 367

The alarm was raised yesterday evening at around 9.00 pm when the vessel had not returned to its normal berth in Lerwick harbour after leaving at 6.15 am from Morrison dock.

The Coastguard rescue helicopter from Sumburgh was scrambled to begin a search to Score Head where the vessel was known to have been heading when it left Lerwick.

The weather last night on scene was southwesterly winds of force 5 to 6 with occasional rain, and a moderate sea. Sea temperature at this time of year is about 8 degrees C.

Information was received to suggest that the vessel was a regular visitor to Cunningsburgh and had last been seen in the area yesterday morning.

The local Police have also been involved making inland enquiries.

Electronic broadcasts have been made throughout the night by Shetland Coastguard but so far nothing has been heard from Mr. Smith. An electronic pan pan signal has also been broadcast drawing attention to other sea farers to watch out for the missing craft. Other vessels crews have also radioed in to the Coastguard asking how they can help.

Sandy Wylie, Duty Watch Manager at Shetland Coastguard said

We have been checking and searching all night and so far no trace of Mr. Smith or his boat has come to light. The 10 metre vessel has dark blue topsides with a square stern, varnished hull, white wheelhouse with a yellow visor, gantry aft with net drum, deck to top of mast is about 10-12ft high

We are now appealing to the public for any information as to his whereabouts. We know that he occasionally spends periods of time on his boat and has a bunk installed. We have been checking harbours and marinas around the Islands overnight but with no result. Vessels are also checking the south side of the Outer Skerries, Whalsay, North Nesting, Moul of Eswick, Stepping Stones to Whalsay this morning with the Lerwick lifeboat being launched later to join the search. The fisheries patrol aircraft Watchdog 64 and two other fishing vessels Guiding Light and Kestrel have also joined the search.

If anyone has further information as to his whereabouts could they please phone Shetland Coastguard on 01595 692976.

[codender]

re pic of boat BREADWINNER WY.367. thats the boat thats missing right enough.
report of it being found on rocks but skipper missing..

[markh]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...etland-12248163

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The search for a fisherman whose boat failed to return to port in Shetland has resumed.

Shetlander Neil Smith was on the 10-metre prawn trawler, The Breadwinner, when it went missing on Thursday.

Shetland Coastguard said the vessel had set off from Morrison dock at about 0615 GMT and was reported missing by another prawn crew at 2100 GMT.

Rescue crews have been searching 250 square miles around Score Head on the northern tip of the island of Bressay.

Duty watch manager at Shetland Coastguard, Sandy Wylie, said: "We have been checking and searching all night and so far no trace of Mr Smith or his boat has come to light.

"The 10-metre vessel has dark blue topsides with a square stern, varnished hull, white wheelhouse with a yellow visor, gantry aft with net drum, deck to top of mast is about 10-12ft high.

"We are now appealing to the public for any information as to his whereabouts.

"We know that he occasionally spends periods of time on his boat and has a bunk installed."

Mr Wylie said rescuers had been checking harbours and marinas around the islands overnight to see if Mr Smith had berthed elsewhere, but with no result.

Vessels are also checking the south side of the Outer Skerries, Whalsay, North Nesting, Moul of Eswick, Stepping Stones to Whalsay, with the Lerwick lifeboat being launched later to join the search.

The fisheries patrol aircraft Watchdog 64 and two other fishing vessels, Guiding Light and Kestrel, have also joined the search.

[Lady Gaga]

http://www.dailyreco...86908-22865903/

[Barry McCrindle]

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Rescuers searching for a missing prawn fisherman have found his empty boat.

Neil Smith from Shetland, skipper of The Bread Winner, was reported overdue at Lerwick harbour at about 2100 GMT on Thursday.

A helicopter crew found the 10-metre (33-foot) vessel in the Whalsay area shortly before 1000 GMT, but there was no sign of Mr Smith, an experienced fisherman in his fifties.

Shetland Coastguard are co-ordinating a major search.

It is understood that Mr Smith set off from Morrison dock at about 0615 GMT on Thursday.

A spokesman for the coastguard said that the boat had partially sunk but the life raft and life jacket remained.

The spokesman added that two helicopters were searching the area for Mr Smith, as well as the fisheries patrol aircraft, Watchdog 64 and two other fishing vessels.

Rescue crews will continue searching a 250-sq-mile (400-sq-km) area around Score Head on the northern tip of the island of Bressay until it gets dark.

[Barry McCrindle]

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Rescue teams have resumed their search for the one-man crew of a fishing boat which was found on rocks off Shetland.

Neil Smith from Shetland, skipper of The Breadwinner, was reported overdue at Lerwick harbour at about 2100 GMT on Thursday.

A helicopter crew found the 10-metre prawn boat in the Whalsay area shortly before 1000 GMT on Friday.

However, there was no sign of Mr Smith, who is an experienced fisherman in his 50s.

When the boat was found, it had partially sunk. Its life raft and life jacket were also found nearby.

Alex Wylie, duty watch manager at Shetland Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, said The Breadwinner was located semi-submerged and badly damaged on rocks.

He said: "Unfortunately, no sign of the single occupant could be found. The search has been ongoing all day.

"We would like to remind fishermen how important it is to always wear a personal flotation device on deck."

Rescue crews have been focussing their search on a 250 sq mile area around Score Head on the northern tip of the island of Bressay.