There has been no sign of two fishermen missing from Gourdon despite a second day of intensive searches.
Montrose, Aberdeen and Stonehaven lifeboat crews are working alongside Montrose Coastguard and Stonehaven Coastguard teams in a bid to find the men, named locally as Jim Reid and his grandson David Irvine of Inverbervie, who were reported missing on Tuesday at 11.50am.
Family members of the two men have gathered at Gourdon Harbour but were too upet to speak.
Through his role as a supervisor in the local Scotmid store, David Irvine is well-known figure in Inverbervie and his employers today joined the community in praying for a positive outcome to the ongoing search.
A Scotmid spokesman said: “David has worked for Scotmid Co-operative for seven years and is the branch supervisor at our Inverbervie store.
“He is a very popular member of the team and our thoughts are with David’s family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.We are hoping and praying that David and his grandfather will be found.”
The 16ft fishing boat, Water Rail, is understood to have gone out at 4am on Tuesday and was due back to Gourdon Harbour at 9.30am but never returned.
A massive operation to find the men was launched and included efforts from the Rescue 137 helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth.
In an update on Wednesday afternoon, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the search was continuing but: “There have been no sightings of the two missing men, the fishing vessel, debris or any fuel pollution from the boat.”
It later saidA Bond search and rescue helicopter which operates for BP in the North Sea has joined the operation.
The search had been called off due to darkness late on Tuesday night and the Coastguard said crews have been back out since 4am this morning searching the stretch of coastline between Montrose and Stonehaven as the small fishing community at Gourdon clings to hope that the sailors will come home.
He said: “We are carrying on with the search and the crews regrouped at around 4am this morning.
“Montrose lifeboat, Aberdeen lifeboat and Stonehaven’s trainee lifeboat teams are out working with Montrose Coastguard and Stonehaven Coastguard teams.
“Rescue 173 is on its way down as well and we will be searching coastally from Montrose to Stonehaven.”