Marine accident investigators have been examining the sister ship of the ill-fated Solway Harvester in the hope of finding clues to the tragedy.

The experts spent Friday morning looking over Torbach-N whose crew were the last to have contact with the Solway Harvester which went down in rough seas on Tuesday night.

Investigators have also been back to the accident site off the Isle of Man to search for fresh debris from the sunken wreckage.

The community of the Isle of Whithorn, near Kirkudbright, continues to come to terms with the loss of the seven-strong crew of the scallop dredger.

Young and old gathered at the village's quayside on Friday to say a silent prayer and some threw red roses into the waters which had claimed their loved ones.

A poignant message attached to one flower read: "For John, his whole life in front of him. My thoughts are with the family."

It was a reference to John Murphy, 22, one of the crew.

Messages of sympathy have been sent from around the UK, including one from the Queen.

A spokeswoman for Buckingham Palace said: "In her message the queen expressed her shock and asked the local Lord Lieutenant to convey her deep sympathy to the families and friends of the victims and all those their villages.

"She added they would grievously missed."

A special Scallop Association memorial fund for the families of the bereaved has already received an overwhelming response.

The work of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch is being thwarted at present because of inclement weather conditions.

Investigation delay

It has admitted it could be weeks before it can send a remote camera down to the trawler.

Theories abound about why the relatively new and well-equipped vessel should sink just 11 miles off the coast of the Isle of man.

Some observers believe a container which fall from a cargo ship might have been responsible for causing a collision and the subsequent accident.

John Hermse, of the Scallop Association, said: "If a container was floating semi-slumped and the boat had rolled on top of it her buoyancy would have been affected and she could have toppled over.

"That is certainly a theory on the possible cause."

It is understood the families of the dead men would like the bodies recovered if it is possible to do so without having to raise the vessel.

Local councillor Alistair Geddes said the families and the community wanted the bodies brought home for burial: "The wider community's feeling is that they support the families in getting their wish fulfilled. Families want the bodies back."

Mr Geddes was backed by the area's MP Alasdair Morgan, who said the return of the men for burial was now the most important thing for everyone affected by the tragedy.

He added: "Once that has been done we can actually get on with the inquiry.

"The community needs the bodies to help the grieving process. It seems like it should be possible, given the fact the wreck is accessible."

Manx Police Inspector Gary Roberts explained that the ultimate say on that would rest with the Isle of Man coroner.

"In liaison with the families, the final decision would rest with the Isle of Man coroner," he told BBC Scotland.

"He has told us that if the families wish the bodies to be recovered, if they are still in the vessel, we will do everything humanly possible to do that."

On Thursday villagers took part in a vigil of prayer at the town's small Catholic Church, St Martin and St Ninian.

The family of Martin Milligan told of their loss of a fun-loving "family guy".

A spokesperson for the Milligans said: "Martin was an everyday family guy - he liked to drink, he liked to put on a bet and he loved his Rangers."

Flowers have been placed on a memorial in Kirkcudbright commemorating the loss of the Mhairi-L, the scallop trawler lost almost 15 years ago with the lives of four men.

The figure depicts a woman hugging a child close to her chest.

A candle, etched with a heart and the figure seven, burned in memory to the men and a card placed by mourners said simply: "Our thoughts are with the families of the seven lost fishermen."