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Police name three missing tug men | |
(30 minutes later) | |
The three missing members of a tug crew that capsized in heavy fog on the River Clyde have been named by police. | |
The men are boat skipper Stephen Humphries, 33, engineer Robert Cameron, 65, and crew member Eric Blackley, 50. All live in the west of Scotland. | |
A fourth man had been pulled out of the river after being spotted in the water and was taken to hospital by ambulance. | |
The search for the missing men resumed at first light, but hopes of finding them alive are fading. | |
The Flying Phantom tug ran aground while towing a ship and capsized near Clydebank at 1810 GMT on Wednesday. | The Flying Phantom tug ran aground while towing a ship and capsized near Clydebank at 1810 GMT on Wednesday. |
Rescue efforts for the remaining three crew members had been hampered on Wednesday evening by thick fog, with visibility at just 15m. | Rescue efforts for the remaining three crew members had been hampered on Wednesday evening by thick fog, with visibility at just 15m. |
We still have no idea what went wrong and I would not like to speculate on the cause of this incident Ian PlaterClyde Coastguard | We still have no idea what went wrong and I would not like to speculate on the cause of this incident Ian PlaterClyde Coastguard |
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 between two-and-a-half and three hours. | 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 between two-and-a-half and three hours. |
Mr Humphries is from Greenock and Mr Blackley from Gourock, both Inverclyde. Mr Cameron is from Houston, in Renfrewshire. | |
Two orange buoys marked the location of the sunken tug on the river near the former John Brown shipyard. | Two orange buoys marked the location of the sunken tug on the river near the former John Brown shipyard. |
Tugs and smaller vessels, including Glasgow City Council's St Mungo boat that normally cleans the river, searched in the shadow of the Titan crane, which once helped build the QE2. | Tugs and smaller vessels, including Glasgow City Council's St Mungo boat that normally cleans the river, searched in the shadow of the Titan crane, which once helped build the QE2. |
Police officers in fluorescent jackets could be seen searching both sides of the river bank while divers carried out a fingertip search of the tug in almost total darkness. | Police officers in fluorescent jackets could be seen searching both sides of the river bank while divers carried out a fingertip search of the tug in almost total darkness. |
Clyde Coastguard sector manager Ian Plater confirmed that a number of vessels resumed the search shortly after 0700 GMT. | Clyde Coastguard sector manager Ian Plater confirmed that a number of vessels resumed the search shortly after 0700 GMT. |
'Recovery phase' | 'Recovery phase' |
He said: "Most of the units who took part in the search on Wednesday night came back at first light this morning. | He said: "Most of the units who took part in the search on Wednesday night came back at first light this morning. |
"We are still in a recovery phase and we have deployed search teams up and down the river banks. | "We are still in a recovery phase and we have deployed search teams up and down the river banks. |
"We still have no idea what went wrong and I would not like to speculate on the cause of this incident." | "We still have no idea what went wrong and I would not like to speculate on the cause of this incident." |
Mr Plater said weather conditions were: "Slightly better today but still extremely cold." | Mr Plater said weather conditions were: "Slightly better today but still extremely cold." |
"Last night at midnight the water was just two degrees above freezing. It's probably not much more above that now," he added. | "Last night at midnight the water was just two degrees above freezing. It's probably not much more above that now," he added. |
"We've far exceeded the survival time of anybody that was in the water last night. But with search and rescue we never say never." | "We've far exceeded the survival time of anybody that was in the water last night. But with search and rescue we never say never." |
The section of the river where the tug capsized has been closed to commercial shipping. | The section of the river where the tug capsized has been closed to commercial shipping. |
The Flying Phantom helped tow the QE2 on the Clyde in September | The Flying Phantom helped tow the QE2 on the Clyde in September |
Rescuers said a helicopter was unlikely to be drafted in to help with the search because of foggy conditions and the area's proximity to Glasgow Airport. | Rescuers said a helicopter was unlikely to be drafted in to help with the search because of foggy conditions and the area's proximity to Glasgow Airport. |
The alarm was raised when two community safety officers, Brian Torrie and Charlie Ayre, heard the fourth crew member shouting for help from the water and dialled 999. | The alarm was raised when two community safety officers, Brian Torrie and Charlie Ayre, heard the fourth crew member shouting for help from the water and dialled 999. |
The 37-year-old man was said to be in a "comfortable" condition in hospital, and was talking to investigators. | |
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. | 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 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. | 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. |
We are maintaining constant contact with the families of all four crew members and keeping them informed of all developments James CurrySvitzer managing director | We are maintaining constant contact with the families of all four crew members and keeping them informed of all developments James CurrySvitzer managing director |
The 124ft Flying Phantom was built in 1981 and has been operated by Svitzer since 2001. | The 124ft Flying Phantom was built in 1981 and has been operated by 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 tug helped guide the QE2 as it arrived at the Ocean Terminal on the Firth of Clyde in September. | The tug helped guide the QE2 as it arrived at the Ocean Terminal on the Firth of Clyde in September. |
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." | 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." |
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. | 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. | 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. |