Vision II was docked at Fraserburgh Harbour when the fire started.

BBC Website 01/08/2008

Three people have died in a fire on board a fishing boat at Fraserburgh Harbour in Aberdeenshire.

The Vision II trawler had been docked at the harbour when the fire service received a report of a blaze on board just after 0130 BST.

The identities of those who died have not been released. It is thought they may be from Latvia and the Philippines.

At the height of the blaze, more than 40 firefighters from four stations were at the harbour.

It is understood from the agents for the prawn trawler, Westward Fishing Company, that the three crew victims may be two Filipinos and a Latvian.

There will be heartfelt sympathy for the families of the people involved who have died. We will urgently want to find out what happened
Bertie Armstrong
Scottish Fishermen's Federation chief executive

The 90ft vessel had recently changed hands and was about three-and-a-half years old. It was undergoing a re-fit and re-name, from Amethyst.

It is thought foreign crew members sometimes sleep on the boats in the harbour.

Grampian Fire and Rescue Service's David Rout told BBC Scotland at the scene: "Fire crews encountered an extremely demanding and hazardous situation.

"They were subject to intense fire and heat and there were conditions on the vessel which hampered the operation.

"Our search and rescue teams located three fatalities on board the vessel."

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