Search For Missing Crew Suspended

The search for the eight missing crew members of a sunken cargo ship has been suspended. A major search effort was mounted after the upturned hull of the Cypriot-registered Cemfjord was spotted in the waters of the Pentland Firth, north of Scotland, on Saturday. Lifeboats were stood down earlier this afternoon and returned to shore. Helicopter, coastguard rescue teams, fixed wing aircraft and HMS Somerset continued to search until last light. There has been no sign of the eight crew members, made up of seven Poles and one Filipino. The 83-metre bulk cement carrier, which had been bound for Runcorn, Cheshire, on the west coast of the UK, sank below the water earlier this afternoon. The Coastguard will continue to broadcast messages to all shipping requesting that they are informed about any information or sightings that could be related to the vessel. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has been informed and is about to begin work on the investigation. The families of the missing crew have been notified.