Air, Sea Search for Missing Fishing Vessel Skipper
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TUESDAY, 25 MARCH 2008
Solent Coastguard is coordinating the search for a Belgian fisherman after he went missing from his vessel, 15 miles south of Newhaven.
The skipper of the vessel Zilmermeeuw, a Belgian vessel with six people onboard, went missing while the crew members were below deck having lunch. When the crew returned from their break, they found their skipper missing and contacted Solent Coastguard.
The Coastguard scrambled the Coastguard Rescue helicopter Mike Uniform and requested the Newhaven and Eastbourne RNLI lifeboats to launch. A request for help was broadcast simultaneously to all shipping and six fishing vessels and commercial vessels (four of them were Belgian) responded and offered their assistance with the search. Mike Uniform is now returning and a second Coastguard helicopter Whiskey Bravo will begin a search.
Colin Griffiths, Solent Coastguard Watch Manager, said, "We are very concerned for the well-being of the skipper. The weather is inclement with westerly winds up to 23 knots, poor visibility, rain, and sleet. We know that the skipper was not wearing a life jacket or survival suit."
Source:
www.mcga.gov.uk
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