Life raft found off Scots coast in hunt for three missing fishermen

THE life raft from a fishing vessel lost in the Irish Sea with three crew missing has been found off the Scottish coast.

The Nicola Faith crew failed to return to port at Conwy, in north Wales, after a fishing trip on January 27.

The families of the three men have sought advice from an expert nicknamed “shipwreck hunter” in an attempt to find their loved ones.

Ocean recovery expert David Mearns, who found wreckage of the plane carrying footballer Emiliano

Sala, is helping the families with “technical advice”.

They are trying to raise £75,000 to pay for a private search to find Ross Ballantine, 39, Alan Minard, 20, and skipper Carl Mcgrath, 34.

Yesterday, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said the life raft for the fishing vessel has been recovered.

The raft was found off the coast of Kirkcudbrightshire by HM Coastguard and has been positively identified by the MAIB as being from the Nicola Faith. It will now be transported to the MAIB in Southampton for further investigation and analysis.

“The investigation into the causes and circumstances surrounding the vessel’s loss is continuing,” said the MAIB.

“The search for the vessel, which is being co-ordinated by the MAIB, is continuing. MAIB has been working with underwater search experts to cover a wide area, including all of the vessel’s historical operating area.

“The next of kin have been informed of this development.”

However, earlier in the week families said they want to enlist a private rescue team – like that led by Mr Mearns to find Sala and pilot David Ibbotson in 2019 in the English Channel – which specialises in deep water search and recovery operations.

Mr Mearns said he thinks if the Nicola Faith sank “within sight of land, it can definitely be found”.

“So far, I’ve been providing the families with technical advice about how to search for the boat and the best way to raise the funding to pay for it,” said Mr Mearns. “Hopefully, the people of Conwy and the broader fishing community can help bring these men home to their families.”

A major two-day search to find the Nicola Faith – last seen off the coast at Rhos on Sea on the evening of January 27 – was called off after several coastguard vessels, lifeboats, sonar planes and helicopters searched several hundred square miles for the 33ft fishing vessel.

The MAIB also searched extensively but a month after the crew disappeared fishing for whelks in the Irish Sea, the men or the boat has not been found – and the families want to raise money for private help.

Lowri Taylor, sister of Mr Ballantine, said Mr Mearns had told them they needed to “act fast and get money raised before it’s potentially too late”.

“We need the money to get the expertise of deep sea searching specialists and utilise the best equipment,” she said.

“This can build on the great work already done by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch which, as a government agency, has limited time, resources and funding they can put into this search.

“We’ve spoken to officials at the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and they’re happy for us to do this.

“We don’t want to tread on their toes. We just need to make sure the biggest possible effort goes into finding what happened, and finding the men on board.”

A Crowdfunding page for the search raised more than £7,500 in 24 hours.

Nathania Minard, the mother of Alan Minard, set up the page because families had so many “unanswered questions” about what had happened and needed closure.

“Closure is critical to enable the families to move forward, remember the good times rather than worry about what happened on that fateful day,” she said.

“Three families are distraught and desperate for answers, but mostly just want their three men home.”

Three families are distraught and desperate for answers, but mostly just want their three men home