A man’s body has been recovered and two other fishermen remain missing after a fishing vessel disappeared off the coast of the Outer Hebrides, prompting an extensive search operation in difficult weather conditions.
Police Scotland received a report of the missing boat at approximately 11.35pm on Tuesday, October 13, after the vessel was reported missing off Port of Ness on the Isle of Lewis.
According to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the alarm was initially raised at around 9.20pm when the boat failed to arrive at its intended destination.
Stornoway’s all-weather lifeboat was launched at 9.42pm, the RNLI confirmed.
The recovered body has not yet been formally identified, although authorities believe the man was the vessel’s skipper.
The two remaining missing men are thought to have been members of the crew.
Extensive Search Operation Underway
Rescue teams have been working through challenging sea conditions to locate the missing fishermen and their vessel.
The operation involves an aircraft, two helicopters, six coastguard rescue teams, two RNLI lifeboats, a local boat and Police Scotland.
Lochinver Lifeboat returned at approximately 8am on Wednesday after spending several hours searching waters battered by strong winds.
The crew had launched shortly after midnight.
The Stornoway Coastguard search and rescue helicopter conducted searches until 3am, while a second helicopter from Sumburgh in Shetland covered the area between 2am and 9am.
The operation has been complicated by severe weather across the region, with rescue personnel continuing their efforts in difficult conditions.
Three Fishermen Identified as Local Residents
Western Isles Council convener Kenneth Macleod confirmed that all three men were residents of Lewis.
Mr Macleod represents An Taobh Siar Agus Nis, the area that includes Ness, where the vessel was reported missing.
He said the fishermen were believed to have been working in waters between Port of Ness and the Butt of Lewis when the incident occurred.
Speaking about the tragedy, Mr Macleod expressed his condolences to the families and friends of the men and praised the emergency services involved in the search.
“It is a terrible tragedy and difficult to put into words. My condolences are with the families and friends,” he said.
He also acknowledged the efforts of coastguard teams, lifeboat crews and other rescue personnel, describing the conditions at sea as brutal and particularly challenging.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Lunchtime Live programme on Wednesday, he described the incident as a dark day for Ness and the wider Lewis community.
He said the news was deeply distressing and that his thoughts were with the families affected, adding that it was difficult to comprehend what they were experiencing.
Families Receive Specialist Support
Authorities have informed the families of the three fishermen, who are receiving support from officers.
At least two of the men are believed to have children.
Police Scotland said it recognised the distress caused by the incident and was working alongside partner agencies to locate the missing vessel and the two unaccounted-for crew members.
Chief Inspector Ross McCartney, the local area commander for the Western Isles, said considerable resources had been deployed to the search.
“We are very aware of the impact that this incident will have on communities across the Outer Hebrides and beyond,” he said.
He confirmed that specialist support was being provided to the families while the search continued.
Mr McCartney also acknowledged that members of the local community would want to assist the rescue effort but urged them not to put themselves in danger by conducting searches independently.
He said a police presence would remain in the Port of Ness area and encouraged anyone with relevant information or concerns to speak to an officer.
Yellow Weather Warning Covers the Region
The search is taking place as the Met Office warns of adverse weather across the Highlands and Western Isles.
A yellow weather warning has been issued, with wind gusts expected to reach up to 70mph in some areas.
Strong winds, heavy rain and warmer air are forecast as the remnants of Hurricane Isaias, which struck the southern United States on Saturday, move towards the UK.
Police Scotland has specifically warned members of the public against entering dangerous areas or attempting their own searches in the challenging conditions.
Fishermen Believed to Have Been Using a Creel Boat
The missing men are thought to have been aboard a creel fishing boat, a type of vessel commonly used to catch shellfish, including crabs and lobsters.
A local resident said the fishermen may have been using a boat that was not their usual vessel because their regular craft was unavailable.
The circumstances surrounding the vessel’s disappearance remain under investigation as the search for the two missing men continues.
Western Isles Remembers Previous Fishing Disaster
The latest incident recalls the sinking of the fishing vessel MFV Louisa off Mingulay, south of Barra, on April 9, 2016.
That disaster was described as the worst fishing tragedy in the Western Isles for more than 50 years.
Three men died in the incident: Paul Alliston, 42, from Lochs on Lewis; Martin Johnstone, 29, from Halkirk in Caithness; and Chris Morrison, 27, a father of two from South Harris.
Lachlan Armstrong, who was 27 and from Stornoway at the time, survived after swimming to rocks along the shore. Mr Alliston’s body was never recovered.
Police Appeal for Information
Police Scotland is asking anyone who may have information relevant to the missing vessel or its crew to contact the force.
Information can be provided by calling 101 and quoting reference number 3575 of October 13.
