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Search resumes for missing crew Search resumes for missing crew
(about 1 hour later)
A search has resumed for three crew members of a tug which capsized in thick fog on the River Clyde.A search has resumed for three crew members of a tug which capsized in thick fog on the River Clyde.
An ambulance spokesman said a fourth person on board, a man, had been pulled out of the water after swimming ashore. He was taken to hospital in Glasgow. Clyde Coastguard said morning conditions were much better, but hopes of finding the men alive were fading.
The Flying Phantom tug ran aground whilst towing a vessel and capsized. The Flying Phantom tug ran aground while towing a ship and capsized near Clydebank at 1810 GMT on Wednesday.
A Navy helicopter from HMS Gannett, Prestwick, had been sent out to help the search but coastguards say that finding survivors is unlikely. A fourth person on board, a man, had been pulled out of the water after swimming ashore. He was taken to hospital by ambulance.
Colin Lochhead from Clyde coastguard said: "The towline broke, it parted from its tow, and that's when the boat got into difficulties. Rescue efforts for the remaining three crew members had been hampered on Wednesday evening by thick fog, with visibility at just 15m.
"There's not much hope, the water is very cold. The temperature up here in the air is very cold as well, but it's still a rescue situation until we actually find out what's happened." Things do look quite bad. It would be very difficult to remain overnight in such conditions. Clyde Coastguard spokesman
Lost contact The temperature in the river is only 2.5C and survival time in the water, which has a depth of about 10m, is said to be limited.
The independently-owned vessel, which is based at Greenock, was one of three tugs towing the Panama-registered Red Jasmine. A spokesman for Clyde Coastguard confirmed that a number of vessels resumed the search shortly after 0700 GMT.
He said: "This morning conditions are much better. Visibility is clear and the sea is calm.
"But things do look quite bad. It would be very difficult to remain overnight in such conditions.
"However, you never know. As far as we're concerned, this is still a rescue operation."
A helicopter is expected to be sent to aid the search later after being forced to turn back after being scrambled in heavy fog on Wednesday.
Stood down
The alarm was raised when two community safety officers heard the fourth crew member shouting for help from the water and dialled 999.
Four coastguard rescue teams, three RNLI lifeboats and other boats joined the search along with Royal Navy and Strathclyde Police divers and Strathclyde Fire and Rescue.
The crewman who managed to swim for shore was rescued from the water by a passing boat and taken to the Western Infirmary in Glasgow for treatment.
The vessel, which is owned by Danish firm Svitzer and based at Greenock, was one of three tugs towing the Panama-registered bulk carrier Red Jasmine.
It is understood no mayday call was sent out. The tug went down beside Rothesay Dock, near Clydebank College.It is understood no mayday call was sent out. The tug went down beside Rothesay Dock, near Clydebank College.
Clyde Coastguard received a 999 call from a community safety officer at about 1840 GMT saying they could hear someone in distress in the water. We are maintaining constant contact with the families of all four crew members and keeping them informed of all developments James CurrySvitzer managing director
Shortly afterwards tug operator Svitzer informed the coastguard that they had lost radio contact with the Flying Phantom. The 124ft Flying Phantom was built in 1981 and has been operated by Svitzer since 2001.
The Flying Phantom/Pic: Gavin Stewart - Clydebuilt Ships Database
The tug had run aground whilst towing the Red Jasmine and parted its towline.
Clyde Coastguard said about eight vessels were involved in the search in visibility of about 15m on Wednesday.
They included coastguard teams from Helensburgh and Ardrossan and lifeboats from Troon and Helensburgh as well as the Strathclyde Fire and Rescue launch.
The temperature of the water was said to be approximately 2.5C and the depth of the river at the point where the tug sank estimated at 10m.
A person in water as cold as that would not be expected to survive for more than an hour.
The rescued crewman was being treated at the Western Infirmary in Glasgow.
The 124ft Flying Phantom was built in 1981 and has been operated by Danish firm Svitzer since 2001.
In 2000 it sustained a punctured hull off Dumbarton and beached to prevent sinking.In 2000 it sustained a punctured hull off Dumbarton and beached to prevent sinking.
The 719ft Red Jasmine was built in 2006 and has a gross weight of 39,000 tonnes. Svitzer managing director James Curry said: "This has been a tragic accident. We are maintaining constant contact with the families of all four crew members and keeping them informed of all developments."
The bulk carrier, which was carrying maize and soya from Brazil, docked safely at the King George V Dock a short time later. Svitzer UK will be carrying out its own investigation into the accident and said it would be co-operating fully with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch of the Department of Transport.
The Red Jasmine, which has a gross weight of 39,000 tonnes and was carrying maize and soya from Brazil, is a Panamanian-registered vessel. It docked safely at the King George V Dock a short time after the incident.