Trawlermen to continue boat hunt

Three of the crewmen from the Meridian are still missing

Trawlermen have vowed to keep looking for three crew still missing from a fishing boat lost in the North Sea.

The official search for the Fife boat Meridian has been called off but crews said they would keep searching.

The one body recovered since the alarm was raised on Thursday night was that of Edward Gardner, 50, from Cellardyke.

Still missing are skipper Martin Gardner, 49, Ian Donald, 55, both from Anstruther, and Sidney Low, 52, from Aberdeen.

Ships using the North Sea have been receiving continual radio broadcasts appealing for them to watch the surface of the water for any sign of the Meridian.

Vessels, including Scottish trawlers, have responded to the call.

'Quiet desperation'

Martin Gardner's wife Julia said at the weekend that the official search gave up on her husband too soon.

The Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) is contacting the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) to find out what will be done to locate the wreckage of the Meridian.

SFF Chief Executive Bertie Armstrong - speaking after meeting with the family of Mr Low in Aberdeen - said finding out what happened to the boat was a priority for the relatives.

He told BBC Scotland: "They are not the family of the recovered man so they have no closure and are in a state of what you might describe as quiet desperation.

"It's a very sad period for them."

Edward Gardner's body was found by search teams on Friday

The Norwegian Coastguard, which had been co-ordinating operations, called off the search on Saturday night.

The men had been carrying out pipeline observation work for an oil firm in Norwegian waters.

On Monday, the Conservative's fisheries spokesman Ted Brocklebank called for a review of the type of boat which can be used as an offshore standby vessel.

The MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife said: "Skippers on standby duty cannot sail for home or dodge bad weather as they normally could.

"The Meridian was 160 miles from her home port in atrocious weather when she apparently foundered.

'Routine practice'

"The seamanship of her crew is surely not under question, but I believe a review is needed on the size and capability of all fishing vessels required to remain at sea when on standby duties."

Mr Brocklebank called on the MAIB to raise the wreck of the Meridian to find out what happened and bring "closure" for the families.

But a Talisman Energy spokesman insisted that fishing boats are not used as "offshore standby vessels".

He added: "The Meridian was on observation duties in the Blane field.

"As part of standard industry practice, the boat was employed to ensure that no fishing vessels crossed a stretch of pipeline which was undergoing construction work.

"This is a routine, well practised activity for the Scottish fishing fleet."