A PRIVATE search for missing fishing boat 'Nicola Faith' is underway.
Oceanographer David Mearns, an American marine scientist and expert in deep water recovery, is leading the search which began on Saturday at 6am.
The effort follows a huge fundraiser carried out by the families of three fishermen Ross Ballantine, 39, Alan Minard, 20, and skipper Carl McGrath, 34, who went missing off the coast of Conwy on January 27. A huge search-operation was carried out on January 28 and 29 but the vessel, nor its crew, were found.
On Saturday, Mr Mearns tweeted: "Thanks to thousands who donated, and on behalf of the families of Alan Minard, Carl McGrath and Ross Ballantine, the private search for the FV NICOLA FAITH commenced this morning at 6am."
These displays show the type of sonar imagery we are collecting. Conditions are good today, already searched 6 lines. If the NICOLA FAITH has sunk out here we will find it. #findNicolaFaith pic.twitter.com/8Xk2H38q3j
— David Mearns OAM (@davidlmearns) March 22, 2021
He subsequently tweeted: "We have eliminated a possible sighting of diesel fuel off Pentrwyn point, with this multi-beam sonar a boat the size of Nicola Faith would be easy to spot," adding: "We also eliminated a possible sonar target someone spotted, it was this much older charted shipwreck, 11 metres long but only 1 metre high off the seabed".
Mr Mearns revealed he had hired a survey contractor [SEP Hydrographic] on behalf of the families.
He said: "Their seven-metre catamaran PULSAR is small but packed with first rate survey equipment including sidescan sonar, multi-beam echo sounder, and integrated positioning accurate to 10cm."
This morning (Monday, March 22) Mr Mearns headed out again.
He tweeted: "The wind sock at Conwy Marina suggests the sea conditions today should be favourable for searching."
The bodies of three men were recovered from the coastline off the Wirral and Blackpool over the weekend of March 13-14.
North Wales Police said it had informed the families and is awaiting the outcome of the Home Office post-mortem examinations.
Mr Mearns, who helped the recovery of the plane carrying Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala, will provide additional expertise to the investigation being carried out by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB). The UK Government agency has searched more than 30 square miles of seabed using specialist equipment and has shared its information with Mr Mearns.
In the latest update, on March 19, MAIB said it will be extending its search for the fishing vessel Nicola Faith.
A statement said: "With poor weather forecast in the coming days, additional search assets with enhanced capability will be deployed over the weekend, with plans to continue once the weather improves. In addition, the search area planned to be covered has been expanded
"The MAIB, which has been co-ordinating the search effort, is extremely grateful to Natural Resources Wales which has volunteered their sonar equipment and additional technical expertise to the search. MAIB is also in discussion with Welsh Government about the use of the Rhodri Morgan, one of their fishery patrol vessels.
"Tomorrow the search will also be joined by David Mearns, whose participation has been paid for by a crowdfunding campaign led by the families.
"MAIB has shared detailed information with David Mearns about the most likely areas the vessel could be found to ensure the best use of this extra resource."
Andrew Moll, chief inspector of Marine Accidents, said: "This was a truly tragic accident which has left a community with many unanswered questions. I and my colleagues at the MAIB share their urgent need for answers and to fully understand what went wrong. The search effort continues with renewed vigour this weekend and we are pleased that David Mearns has joined this effort.
"To date more than 30 square miles of seabed have been searched using specialist equipment. We have been able to identify the vessel’s primary operating area and this has been searched with a considerable amount of overlap. The specialist equipment that is being used is extremely sensitive and the search has been hampered by poor weather in recent weeks. "We remain hopeful that this immense effort will bring news the families hope for very soon."
Earlier this month the vessel’s liferaft was found off the coast of Kirkcudbrightshire by HM Coastguard and was identified by the MAIB as being from the Nicola Faith.
The families have been kept fully updated on the search.
More than £68,000 has been raised as part of the effort to acquire Mr Mearns’s expertise and equipment.
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