A massive search operation for a ferry passenger feared overboard in the North Sea was called off last night.
Two rescue helicopters and three lifeboat crews spent the day scouring the seas around Fair Isle after reports of a man missing from the Hrossey.
The vessel, which left Aberdeen at 5pm on Thursday, was travelling from Kirkwall to Lerwick when the incident was reported to the captain, Nigel Barnes, at 4am.
He immediately turned the ferry around to start searching for the passenger, who is understood to have boarded at Aberdeen.
There were 172 people on board, including 21 children.
Police said the man, who is believed to be in his 40s, is thought to have last been on board the vessel about 3.30am, while she was travelling south of Fair Isle.
Lifeboats were mobilised from Kirkwall, Stromness and Lerwick, along with Shetland Coastguard helicopter.
They were searching an area of the sea 10 miles east of Sanday.
They were joined by Banff-registered fishing boat Carina, the Scottish government’s Fisheries Protection Vessel Jura, the oil support vessel Havila Aurora and the Norwegian tug Siem Topaz.
The oil industry’s helicopter Bond 2 was also on the scene.
The ferry was stood down at about 9am and continued on her way to Shetland, arriving about noon.
The main search continued until darkness fell.
A NorthLink Ferries spokesman said: “The MV Hrossey left Kirkwall with 172 passengers aboard, including the man involved.
“NorthLink Ferries is liaising with the relevant authorities, including the police. NorthLink Ferries do not expect that this incident will delay the departure of the MV Hrossey this evening from Shetland, bound for Kirkwall and Aberdeen.”
This was the second man to have gone overboard from a Serco Northlink ferry in the past few weeks.
Last month 22-year-old Craig Townsley, of Shetland, disappeared while on board the Hjaltland travelling from Lerwick to Aberdeen.
The search was called off after 24 hours and his body has never been found.