Body of Scots fisherman found in Norway four years after vanishing at sea

The body of Joe Masson has been found after he vanished at sea on his creel boat in 2021.

The body of an Aberdeenshire fisherman who vanished at sea over three years ago on his creel boat has been found on an Norwegian island.

On October 16, 2021, Joe Masson left his home in Fraserburgh around 10am to go out on his boat in North Sea. He was last seen around 1.30pm on board the vessel from Cairnbulg Harbour, Cairnbulg.

After he failed to return home, the 73-year-old’s family reported him missing and a search involving police, HMS Coastguard, the MOD and the RNLI was launched to trace him.

He was never found and was presumed to have fallen overboard.

Last month, a body was discovered on Sula, an island on the north-west coast of Norway, Police Scotland has confirmed.

Although formal identification has yet to take place, the Force said the family of Mr Masson has been informed as DNA analysis through Interpol's registry identified the body as Joe, according to reports in Norway.

They confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.

Joe is believed to have tragically fallen overboard while attempting to free a snagged feet of creels on his boat, Goodway, according to a Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) investigation.

Goodway was found to be damaged when RNLI crew arrived on scene as the engine was missing, and the A-frame was floating free in the water.

A later-deployed search and rescue helicopter also reported that there was no sign of Joe.

Elisabeth Strand Bachmann, lead prosecutor in charge of the case in the Trøndelag Police District, said: "While there is a tragic accident behind this, we still hope that the find has value for the bereaved."

Joe, who had worked on a wide variety of commercial trawlers throughout his 50-year fishing career, previously owned a pub with his wife for over 20 years until their retirement in 2011.

He had also underwent a triple heart bypass operation in 2017, which he was not taking any medication for at the time of the accident.

It was found the vessel was not equipped with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and the personal locator beacon (PLB purchased by the skipper did not meet the regulatory requirement to transmit to satellites on 406MHz

An inspection of Goodway by a Maritime and Coastguard Agency surveyor to verify that previously recorded deficiencies had been rectified did not identify that the PLB purchased as an alternative to an EPIRB was not of the approved type.

The report advised that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency is recommended to issue an Advice Note to remind surveyors of the different types of PLBs that may be encountered and which of these are acceptable alternatives to the vessel being equipped with an EPIRB.

Joe was a beloved husband of the late Kathleen, loving dad of Joe and the late Diane, dear father-in-law of Lynn, proud granda of Shawnee, Kaia, Kahlen and Kenadie and good friend to many.

A memorial service was held for Joe on Friday, November 12, 2021 at Alexander & Son Funeral Chapel in Fraserburgh.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We can confirm a body was discovered on the island of Sula on the north-west coast of Norway earlier this month.

“Enquiries are at an early stage, and formal identification is yet to take place however the family of missing person Joseph Masson from the Fraserburgh area have been informed.

“Mr Masson was last seen on Saturday, October 16, 2021, on his boat not far from Cairnbulg Harbour, Cairnbulg, Fraserburgh.

“Officers are liaising with the relevant authorities.

“There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.”