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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Lost skipper sparks major search | Lost skipper sparks major search |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| Coastguards say they have located a "rogue" poorly equipped creel boat and its skipper after a major search in the north and far north of Scotland. | |
| The 27ft vessel was reported to have left Peterhead for Wick on Sunday. | The 27ft vessel was reported to have left Peterhead for Wick on Sunday. |
| When it failed to arrive contact was made by phone when the skipper reported he was heading for the Dornoch Firth. | When it failed to arrive contact was made by phone when the skipper reported he was heading for the Dornoch Firth. |
| A search was launched in poor weather along the Caithness and Sutherland coast, but the boat was later found drifting in the Pentland Firth. | A search was launched in poor weather along the Caithness and Sutherland coast, but the boat was later found drifting in the Pentland Firth. |
| Coastguards said the man, from Thurso, had become confused about his position, had no navigation equipment and appeared to have no working radio. | Coastguards said the man, from Thurso, had become confused about his position, had no navigation equipment and appeared to have no working radio. |
| Besides putting himself at risk, he could have been a hazard to other shipping and of course has put pressure on the marine rescue services Matthew MaceAberdeen Coastguard | Besides putting himself at risk, he could have been a hazard to other shipping and of course has put pressure on the marine rescue services Matthew MaceAberdeen Coastguard |
| Searches for the vessel had involved three lifeboats, a rescue helicopter and eight Coastguard rescue teams. | |
| It covered areas from Helmsdale to Hoy, including off Helmsdale, Wick, Lybster and Thurso. | It covered areas from Helmsdale to Hoy, including off Helmsdale, Wick, Lybster and Thurso. |
| At one point the Coastguard sent the owner a text asking him to dial 999 and this contact allowed the officers to plot his very rough position. | At one point the Coastguard sent the owner a text asking him to dial 999 and this contact allowed the officers to plot his very rough position. |
| The vessel, the Boy John, was located on Monday morning and a rescue helicopter lowered a winchman onto the deck. | The vessel, the Boy John, was located on Monday morning and a rescue helicopter lowered a winchman onto the deck. |
| The boat was escorted into Longhope by the local lifeboat. | The boat was escorted into Longhope by the local lifeboat. |
| Matthew Mace, watch manager at Aberdeen Coastguard, said: "We are very concerned that such a vessel, which could be better described as a pleasure vessel than a fishing vessel, has such poor quality equipment on board and which clearly has not been maintained. | Matthew Mace, watch manager at Aberdeen Coastguard, said: "We are very concerned that such a vessel, which could be better described as a pleasure vessel than a fishing vessel, has such poor quality equipment on board and which clearly has not been maintained. |
| "The owner also did not have a clue about where he was. | "The owner also did not have a clue about where he was. |
| "This greatly concerns us that besides putting himself at risk, he could have been a hazard to other shipping and of course has put pressure on the marine rescue services in all its forms in order to maintain his safety cover." | "This greatly concerns us that besides putting himself at risk, he could have been a hazard to other shipping and of course has put pressure on the marine rescue services in all its forms in order to maintain his safety cover." |
| Steve Quinn, another watch manager at Aberdeen, said the man had just bought the boat in Arbroath and had originally set a course for Scrabster. | Steve Quinn, another watch manager at Aberdeen, said the man had just bought the boat in Arbroath and had originally set a course for Scrabster. |
| He said: "It was certainly a fool hardy mission to undertake in the conditions and certainly during the hours of darkness." | He said: "It was certainly a fool hardy mission to undertake in the conditions and certainly during the hours of darkness." |