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| Search for missing fishing boat | Search for missing fishing boat |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A massive air and sea 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, which is registered in 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 in Norwegian waters 160 miles east of Aberdeen. | The signal was broadcast from a location in Norwegian waters 160 miles east of Aberdeen. |
| Three of the crew are from the Anstruther area and the fourth is from Aberdeen. | Three of the crew are from the Anstruther area and the fourth is from Aberdeen. |
| An RAF Nimrod Search and Rescue aircraft was sent from Kinloss, along with a Sea King rescue helicopter. | |
| Two helicopters and up to five vessels on the surface are also involved in the search | |
| 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 | 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 |
| Three other fishing boats have joined the search, which is being carried out in storm force 10 conditions with winds gusting up to 80mph. | |
| The vessel was involved in guard duty around North sea platforms - making sure other vessels do not stray too close. | |
| The Meridian had two life rafts on board and the crew were kitted out in survival gear. | |
| 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 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: "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. | 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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 were up to 200 other fishing boats at any one time in that part of the North Sea searching 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. |