Upturned cargo ship found in the Pentland Firth - #SAR and #RNLI lifeboats in huge search mission.

VesselTracker AIS traces at approx 1900 Saturday evening - showing the last recorded position of the casualty.

SAR teams and lifeboats from Longhope, Stromness, Thurso and Wick, are helping search for survivors of the upturned cargo ship, Cemfjiord east of the Pentland Skerries.

According to BBC Scotland a major search operation has been launched after a vessel overturned off the north of Scotland. Eight people are reported to have been on board the Cypriot-registered Cemfjord, a cargo ship carrying cement. 

The upturned hull was found by a passing ferry in the Pentland Firth. Four lifeboats, two rescue helicopters and other vessels are searching for the crew. Shetland Coastguard is co-ordinating rescue efforts. The NorthLink ferry Hrossey also took part in the early stages of the operation. The 83m Cemfjord had been sailing to Runcorn in Cheshire. 

The last confirmed sighting of the vessel was at 13:00 on Friday. It is understood the alarm was raising by the crew of the ferry Hrossey at 14:30 on Saturday. According to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, they reported no survivors in the immediate vicinity. As darkness fell, lifeboats from Stromness, Scrabster, Longhope and Wick were searching the area along with the helicopters, the Shetland coastguard aircraft and an RAF rescue helicopter.

New Year gets off to a typically wintry start as poor visibility, wind and rain lash the coast.

Out with Christmas and in with another New-lyn Year...

as the aptly named Millenia takes one and half tons of the finest Newlyn ice...

the Harvest Reaper makes her way in #ThroughTheGaps...

there are some great lines to draw in artists looking for subjects over the weekend...

looks like an interesting year for the crab fleet in Newlyn...

two of the port's top inshore trawlers lay outside the oldest trawler in the port, the Excellent...

her net drum in bits...

and sure signs that her fishing days are now well behind her...

she makes a good study for pen and ink studies...

away in the distance the Mount is shrouded in mist...

with most of the fleet held in port as very fresh weather system passes across the Western Approaches...

over in Penzance Dock things look quiet...

with many of its resident boats getting some attention from the paint pot...

or in the case of the Ygraine more serious work...

buried amidst a sea of rigging and buildings the Scillonian II is undergoing her annual dry dock refit. 

Marine Management - not so well managed for some?

Info from a fisherman on the East coast:

January quotas for Under 10's North Sea

Cod.....................1.75ton.......................value approx £3300

Skate...................200kg..............................................£280

Sole.....................200kg............................................£1300

TOTAL>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>£4880

Fuel (approx 10days)....................................................£600

Total to be shared........................................................£4280

25% share for a month..................................................£1070

And to make matters worse there are plenty of fisherman out there with less quota.

Excellent

A virtual tour round the last of Stevenson's ex sidewinders painted in 1992  to commerate the hugely popular Working boat festival in Brest. She was built as the Efficient by Forbes of Sandhaven in 1931 and bought by the family firm in 1937 and re-named Excellent. 

Seeing the New Year Ajax style

Deep in traditional Spanish hake fishing territory the Newlyn netter Ajax is working her gear on the Pistola Bank...

 - so named because of the outline shape of the bank resembling that of an early flintlock pistol.

Last landing for 2014 by the Gary M

The Christmas lights ring the harbour walls...

as the last of the boats like the Govenek of Ladram land on the last day of 2014 and tie up against the quay...

and the GaryM land alongside the fish market...

puts her fish ashore...

with a solid trip of over 100 boxes of pollack ready for the first market of 2015.

Last fishing days for the year for theNewlyn fleet as they make the most of fine weather between Christmas and New Year.

Wrapped up in a survival suit, Cap'n Cod makes his way to the market after a day chasing bass...

followed by Jeremy, keeping tucked well in as the Lyonesse is making her way out #ThroughtheGaps...

for a night sardine fishing....

 closely followed by the Asthore...

and the latest addition to the fleet in Newlyn, the Mayflower...

providing visiting photogs with some dusk shots...

the Bacon boys head for the market...

followed by the sequel to a Fistful of Dollars...

the light is special at this time of year with crystal-clear skies!