2ND Body found during search for missing British vessel

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Friday October 27, 2006

Oslo- A body was found during a search for a British fishing boat reported missing in the North Sea, Norwegian rescue officials said Friday. The search for the crew of four on the Scottish vessel was launched after a distress signal was registered late Thursday.

The body was found late Friday afternoon by a Norwegian helicopter taking part in the search operation, a spokesman for the Sola rescue centre in Stavanger said.

Pending formal identification he was not able to confirm that the body was one of the crew members, but the likelihood appeared strong given that the body was recovered in the area of the search.

Two British planes were also helping in the operation taking place in the middle of the North Sea.

Helicopters used to transport oil workers to offshore rigs in the North Sea, and all vessels in the area were also on the lookout, a spokesman for the Sola rescue centre in Stavanger said.

Weather conditions were very bad in the area overnight, with strong winds and up to 10-metre-high waves making visibility poor. Later Friday, the winds and seas had calmed somewhat.

One of the fishing vessel's two life rafts were located early Friday but there was no sign of any crew, the spokesman said, adding that the search was focused on the other life raft.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency