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Search for missing fishing boat Search for missing fishing boat
(40 minutes later)
A search is under way in the North Sea for a missing Fife fishing boat with four crew on board.A search is under way in the North Sea for a missing Fife fishing boat with four crew on board.
The alarm was raised when staff at RAF Kinloss picked up a distress call at 2200 BST on Thursday from the Meridian, a boat from Kirkcaldy. The alarm was raised when staff at RAF Kinloss picked up a distress call at 2200 BST on Thursday from the Meridian, which is registered in Kirkcaldy.
The signal was broadcast from a location 160 miles east of Aberdeen in Norwegian waters. The signal was broadcast from a location in Norwegian waters 160 miles east of Aberdeen.
An RAF Nimrod Search and Rescue aircraft was sent from Kinloss, along with a Sea King rescue helicopter.An RAF Nimrod Search and Rescue aircraft was sent from Kinloss, along with a Sea King rescue helicopter.
Three other fishing boats have joined the search, which is being carried out in Storm Force 10 conditions with winds gusting up to 80mph. Three other fishing boats have joined the search, which is being carried out in storm force 10 conditions with winds gusting up to 80mph.
Three of the crew are from the Anstruther area while the fourth is from Aberdeen. Three of the crew are from the Anstruther area and the fourth is from Aberdeen.
'Hope and pray' If a boat has been missing for this number of hours in such horrendous conditions the outlook is bleak, it would be daft to say otherwise Bertie ArmstrongScottish Fishermen's Federation
A second Sea King from RAF Boulmer in Northumberland was scrambled at 0500 BST.A second Sea King from RAF Boulmer in Northumberland was scrambled at 0500 BST.
Michael Mulford from the Rescue Co-ordination Centre at RAF Kinloss said the Force 10 conditions which had raged through the night were beginning to abate. Michael Mulford, from the Rescue Co-ordination Centre at RAF Kinloss, said the conditions which had raged through the night were beginning to abate.
He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Nimrod at the moment is doing a radar search using fairly sophisticated equipment but a daylight search involving the second Sea King helicopter from Northumberland will give us a fair amount of searching capability. He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "A Nimrod is doing a radar search using fairly sophisticated equipment but a daylight search involving the second Sea King helicopter from Northumberland will give us a fair amount of searching capability.
"We also have three other fishing boats who are going backwards and forwards across this search area and we hope and pray that we will get some kind of positive news.""We also have three other fishing boats who are going backwards and forwards across this search area and we hope and pray that we will get some kind of positive news."
If a boat has been missing for this number of hours in such horrendous conditions the outlook is bleak, it would be daft to say otherwise Bertie ArmstrongScottish Fishermen's Federation 'Hearts in mouths'
Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, said fears were growing for the fishermen. Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, said: "We're all sitting on our hands desperately waiting for news while the full might of maritime search and rescue is applied.
"We're all sitting on our hands desperately waiting for news while the full might of maritime search and rescue is applied," he said.
"The missing white fish boat is a member of one of our eight associations. There are a number of families with their hearts in their mouths right now hoping beyond hope."The missing white fish boat is a member of one of our eight associations. There are a number of families with their hearts in their mouths right now hoping beyond hope.
"There's absolutely no doubt that we have an extremely serious situation here."There's absolutely no doubt that we have an extremely serious situation here.
"If a boat has been missing for this number of hours in such horrendous conditions the outlook is bleak, it would be daft to say otherwise.""If a boat has been missing for this number of hours in such horrendous conditions the outlook is bleak, it would be daft to say otherwise."
Mr Armstrong said there are up to 200 other fishing boats at any one time in that part of the North Sea looking for haddock or prawns. Mr Armstrong said there were up to 200 other fishing boats at any one time in that part of the North Sea searching for haddock or prawns.