Major search under way for missing crew

Four lifeboats, two rescue helicopters and other vessels are searching for the crew of a vessel whose upturned hull was found by a passing ferry in the Pentland Firth this afternoon.

Shetland Coastguard was contacted by the ferry at 2.30 pm to report that the hull of the cargo vessel – believed to be named Cemfjord – had been found, although there were no survivors in the immediate vicinity. The cargo vessel was last seen at 1pm yesterday. Eight crew were on board.

The Wick, Thurso, Longhope and Stromness RNLI lifeboats, the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Shetland, an RAF rescue helicopter and other vessels in the area are now on scene and searching for the missing crew, east of the Pentland Firth.