A plaque in memory of an Argyll fisherman lost at sea has been put up by the Fishermen’s Mission as the third anniversary of the tragedy approaches.
Scott MacAlister, 40, was lost when the small creel boat Speedwell sank off Easdale island on April 25, 2013.
The body of Mr MacAlister, a father-of-three from the isle of Luing, has never been recovered.
He was fishing alone for prawns when the tragedy took place.
His family want to see the 27ft long boat brought to the surface to try to recover his remains.
The plaque has been installed on a picnic bench at the famous Bridge Over the Atlantic, near where he was lost at sea, by Superintendent Matthew Ramsay of the Fishermen’s Mission. It reads: “In loving Memory of Scott MacAlister aged 40. Lost at Sea on April 25 2013. Sadly Missed.”
Mr Ramsay has been supporting Mr MacAlister’s family since the tragedy took place.
They have held many fundraising events for the Fishermen’s Mission in that time.
Mr Ramsay said: “After Scott was lost the family purchased a picnic bench and put it up near the Bridge Over the Atlantic.
“I visit them regularly and told them I knew someone in Carradale who could make a plaque.
“Scott’s mum Lala said it would be nice to get it up before the anniversary so I went up and put it on at the beginning of this week.
“The whole of Mr MacAlister’s extended family do a lot of fundraising for the Fishermen’s Mission. It is absolutely amazing what they do, they run marathons, hold darts competitions.”
He continued: “It is very sad. They have no grave to visit, no closure. It would give the family peace of mind to know one way or another if his remains are still on the boat.
“They are going through a terrible time. People have a lot of sympathy for them.
“We request everyone to keep the MacAlister family in their prayers.”
A Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report concluded that Speedwell probably sank as a result of water ingress through an unsealed and unsecured flush deck hatch leading to the vessel’s after store.
The report recommended that the boat’s owner, John Connell, take steps to ensure any boat he owns in the future is operated safely, paying particular importance to watertight integrity and risk of down-flooding.
