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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Christie Bannon

Huge search underway to find missing fishing boat with three people on board

A huge search operation is under way for a missing fishing boat with three people on board.

The vessel was due back to shore last night after leaving from Conwy on Wednesday evening.

Lifeboat crews and aircraft have spent hours searching for the missing boat after it didn't return back to shore.

Seven lifeboats have been searching off the coast of north Wales for the missing vessel.

HM Coastguard and RNLI crews have been involved in the search on Thursday (Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)

A statement from the RNLI in Rhyl said: "A search got underway off the coast of North Wales this morning (Thursday) following concerns for an overdue fishing vessel with three people onboard.

"The all-weather Shannon class lifeboat and inshore lifeboat from Llandudno were launched around 10.30am this morning.

"Volunteer crews were requested by Holyhead Coastguard to search an area off Llanddulas.

"The inshore RNLI lifeboat from Conwy was launched at 10.48am to assist in the search.

"The Shannon class lifeboat and inshore lifeboat from Rhyl launched at 11.10am to assist in the search, which also includes a Coastguard Rescue Helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft.

"This afternoon at 2.30pm, an Atlantic 85 from Beaumaris was launched to search around the Puffin Island area.

"Hoylake all-weather lifeboat were requested to assist in the search this afternoon. The Shannon class all-weather lifeboat launched just after 5pm."

A number of lifeboats have been launched as part of the search operation (RNLI Holylake)

HM Coastguard explained that a search and rescue helicopter and a fixed-wing Coastguard aircraft have also been involved in the search.

A spokesman said: "HM Coastguard has been co-ordinating an extensive search to find the vessel since just after 10am today (Thursday, January 28) after it failed to return when it was expected.

"Rhyl, Bangor and Llandudno Coastguard Rescue Teams have been sent along with RNLI lifeboats from Rhyl, Llandudno, Conwy and Beaumaris.

"The HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Caernarfon and a fixed-wing Coastguard aircraft have also been assisting with the search.

"North Wales Police are also involved and broadcasts have been made to alert vessels in the nearby area. Despite the extensive search to find the vessel and its crew, nothing has been found so far."

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Duty controller for HM Coastguard, Rob Priestley added: "We are continuing to search a wide area to try and find this vessel with all the assets we have at our disposal.

"We’re also asking other vessels in the area to keep a look out for anything that might also assist the search.”

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