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Hopes are fading for a missing creel boat fisherman after his boat was found, with the engine running and no-one on board, drifting off the east coast of Unst on Sunday evening.
A member of the public contacted Shetland Coastguard at 8.44 pm to report that they had spotted the 26ft fishing boat ‘Kathleen’ offshore with the engine running, but seemingly no-one on board. They had taken their own boat out to investigate the vessel and found no sign of the owner, 46-year-old Karl Anderson, who had not laid any of the creel pots on board.
Shetland Coastguard sent the coastguard rescue helicopter from Sumburgh to begin a search, along with requesting the launch of the Lerwick RNLI lifeboat. Four local vessels are also assisting, with the Baltasound Coastguard Rescue Team performing a shoreline search.
The search continued all day yesterday, Monday, until late evening.
Shetland Coastguard Watch Manager Katrina Hampson said: "Singlehandedly operating a fishing vessel poses many hazards, and fishermen should always take extra care when working alone. Always tell someone ashore where you intend to fish and when you intend to return, carry a VHF radio and wear a personal floatation device whilst working on deck.
Meanwhile the search for an 18-year-old missing since Friday evening off the Moray coast has been called off.
The 18-year-old and two friends set off from Banff in a small fishing boat to go the short distance to Whitehills but their boat flooded and they ended up on the water. Two reached the shore but the 18-year-old did not.
None were wearing lifejackets.
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