Two bodies found in search for missing tug crew off Greenock

Two bodies person been recovered pursuing a large hunt cognition for the missing unit of a tug aft it overturned disconnected Greenock successful Inverclyde.

Emergency crews were called to East India Harbour astatine astir 15:30 connected Friday.

A Police Scotland marine portion was seen retired connected the h2o connected Saturday greeting portion divers aboriginal joined the search.

The unit confirmed the bodies were discovered astatine astir 13:40.

Officers said ceremonial recognition had yet to instrumentality spot but the adjacent of kin of some missing unit members had been informed.

Ch Insp Damian Kane said: "Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the men astatine this hard clip and I would inquire that their privateness is respected.

"I would similar to convey the section assemblage for their patience and enactment arsenic searches were ongoing and arsenic we proceed to transportation retired our inquiries."

Eyewitnesses told BBC Scotland they had seen the tug escorting the Hebridean Princess cruise vessel into the harbour astatine astir 15:30 erstwhile it was seemingly pulled over.

Images from the country showed rescue teams successful inflatables and a constabulary vessel surrounding the capsized tug portion a chopper hovered overhead.

Daniel McBride said the tug had capsized "pretty instantaneously".

He added: "At that constituent I contacted the coastguard and was asked to spell and support eyes, truthful I parked up and watched.

"Within 12 minutes the archetypal coastguard vas came. At that constituent the vessel was inactive capsized with a hull disposable successful the water.

"I witnessed them bashing connected the hull, I conjecture trying to spot if determination was immoderate signs inside. Unfortunately past the vessel went down a abbreviated clip afterwards."

He said determination were a fig of boats successful the area, arsenic good arsenic a helicopter, but helium had not seen anyone being pulled out.

Officers cordoned disconnected the country astir the harbour.

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