Creel boat found on seabed near Oban after mayday call

Teams searching for a missing fishing vessel and its one-person crew have found a creel boat on the seabed.

An emergency mayday call was made to Stornoway Coastguard on Thursday at 1pm, with the message that the boat was “going over”.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said a 26ft creel boat was located during Friday’s search which resumed at 6.30am and an underwater camera will be used to examine the wreck.

Fred Caygill, of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, said: “Oban lifeboat and other fishing vessels continue to search the immediate area from the sea. A police helicopter was used this morning to search from the air and Oban Coastguard Rescue Team continue with the shore search.

“The police dispatched an underwater dive unit to the area and they will be working with our local coastguard boat MCA Hawk to go out to the site where it is believed a vessel has been identified.

“We have located some flotsam believed to be from the vessel. It’s a 26ft one-man fishing vessel commonly known as a creel boat.

“A local gentleman has offered his assistance to the authorities with an underwater camera (ROV), which has been accepted.”