Search for missing ferry passenger off Orkney

A major air and sea search is underway to the east of Orkney this morning following a report of a man overboard from the NorthLink ferry Hrossey. 

The captain of the Hrossey was notified about the incident at approximately 4am this morning and immediately turned the vessel back to begin the search.

A coastguard helicopter is involved in the search near Fair Isle, as are lifeboats from Kirkwall, Stromness and Lerwick.

Several other vessels are involved in the search as well as the ferry, including the Banff fishing vessel Carina, the fisheries protection vessel Jura and the offshore vessel Havila Aurora.

The Hrossey left Aberdeen at 5pm yesterday, bound for Orkney and Shetland.

The vessel left Kirkwall in Orkney at 12.25am hours this morning, and was originally due in Lerwick at 7.30am.

When the ferry left Kirkwall it had 172 passengers aboard, including 21 children.