A specialist ship with hydrographic and wreck survey equipment is being brought in to help find two fishermen missing off the coast of Lewis, more than two weeks after their boat disappeared.
Police Scotland said the Northern Lighthouse Board's ship NLV Pharos was being brought in. The vessel has hydrographic and wreck survey equipment. Items belonging to the fishing boat were recovered during the search last week.
Norman "Tam" Murray, 40, and Murdo Morrison, 23, were on board the Kilda when it disappeared on 13 October. The body of crewmate Douglas Craigie, 49, was recovered from the sea in the early hours of the following morning.
Insp Neil Taylor said the effort would continue with help from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, the coastguard and local maritime experts. He said: "It is imperative we get answers for everyone involved and please be assured our efforts are continuing." He added: "We would urge people not to put themselves at any risk. Please do not attempt to carry out searches in areas which put you at risk of harm."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Two men remain missing and their families are waiting for answers, with the body of a third crewmate already recovered.
- The arrival of NLV Pharos, equipped for seabed and wreck surveys, could be key to locating the boat.
- Police have warned the public against carrying out independent searches because of the risk of harm.
Background
The Kilda disappeared on 13 October while fishing off the north coast of Lewis in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. Norman "Tam" Murray, 40, and Murdo Morrison, 23, are missing, and the body of Douglas Craigie, 49, was recovered early the following morning. Items from the boat were found during last week's search. The search involves Police Scotland, the coastguard, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and local maritime experts.
What to Watch
- When NLV Pharos begins its survey work and whether it locates the Kilda on the seabed.
- What the items recovered from the water reveal about the boat's final movements.
- What the Marine Accident Investigation Branch's continuing involvement establishes about the loss.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedA specialist survey ship is to join the search for the missing Lewis fishermen.BBC Scotland: “A specialist ship is to be used in the search for two missing fishermen and their boat off the coast of Lewis.”
- Partly supportedPolice are bringing in the vessel.BBC Scotland: “Police Scotland said Northern Lighthouse Board's ship, NLV Pharos, was being brought it.”
- Partly supportedThe vessel has “seabed and wreck survey equipment.”BBC Scotland: “The vessel has hydrographic and wreck survey equipment.”
- SupportedItems from the Kilda were recovered last week.STV News: “Items from the missing fishing boat Kilda were recovered last week by specialist police divers”
- SupportedTwo fishermen are missing off the coast of Lewis after their boat disappeared.BBC Scotland: “A specialist ship is to be used in the search for two missing fishermen and their boat off the coast of Lewis. Norman "Tam" Murray, 40 and Murdo Morrison, 23, were on board the Kilda when it disappeared on 13 October.”
- SupportedThe search is continuing more than two weeks after the boat disappeared.BBC Scotland: “Norman "Tam" Murray, 40 and Murdo Morrison, 23, were on board the Kilda when it disappeared on 13 October.”
- SupportedPolice Scotland said the Northern Lighthouse Board’s NLV Pharos was being brought in.BBC Scotland: “Police Scotland said Northern Lighthouse Board's ship, NLV Pharos, was being brought it.”
- SupportedNorman “Tam” Murray, 40, and Murdo Morrison, 23, were aboard the Kilda when it disappeared on 13 October.BBC Scotland: “Norman "Tam" Murray, 40 and Murdo Morrison, 23, were on board the Kilda when it disappeared on 13 October.”
- SupportedDouglas Craigie’s body was recovered from the sea in the early hours of the following morning.BBC Scotland: “The body of crewmate Douglas Craigie, 49, was recovered from the sea in the early hours of the following morning by rescuers.”
- SupportedInsp Neil Taylor said the effort would continue with help from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, the coastguard and local maritime experts.BBC Scotland: “Insp Neil Taylor said the effort would continue with help from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, coastguard and local maritime experts.”
- SupportedInsp Neil Taylor said: “It is imperative we get answers for everyone involved and please be assured our efforts are continuing.”BBC Scotland: “He said: "It is imperative we get answers for everyone involved and please be assured our efforts are continuing. "”
- SupportedInsp Neil Taylor said: “We would urge people not to put themselves at any risk. Please do not attempt to carry out searches in areas which put you at risk of harm.”BBC Scotland: “"We would urge people not to put themselves at any risk. "Please do not attempt to carry out searches in areas which put you at risk of harm."”