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A major search off Orkney for a missing fisherman was stood down on Friday evening.
The Coastguard began its intense search of the sea area to the west of Orkney at 4.20am on Friday morning after hearing the crews call for help. The five-strong crew of the steel hulled fishing vessel ‘Noronya’, an 18.5 metre newly built crabber, described their colleague at the time as not wearing a lifejacket, but dressed in a grey jumper and yellow oilskins.
They had immediately deployed a lifering and threw a smoke marker into the water near the spot where the man was seen to fall in. They then began their own search of the area using the marker as the starting point for their search.
Various rescue units and vessels attended the area throughout the day including the Coastguard Rescue helicopter R 102 from Shetland; The Stromness and Kirkwall RNLI all weather lifeboats; fishing vessels ‘Noroyna’; ‘Boy Shane’; ‘Maranatha’; Gripfisk, the Warship Bangor, a French Fixed Wing Aircraft Atlantique Rescue WB and Cargo Vessel ‘Wilson Cane’.
Many of those assisting vessels have stayed on scene throughout the search.
Kathy Grant, watch manager at Shetland Coastguard, said: 'Although the weather on scene throughout the day was very good for searching, unfortunately crewman Mark Duffy aged 22, an Irish national, still remains missing. We would like to extend our sincerest sympathies to his family and friends at this tragic and youthful loss.'
Should fisheries be closed during breeding time to allow stocks to reach more sustainable levels?
