Divers involved in an underwater search after a tugboat capsized have recovered two bodies.
Police Scotland has confirmed the bodies of two men were recovered off Custom House Quay at about 1.40pm on Saturday.
The news comes a day after the boat, said to have been towing the cruise ship MV Hebridean Princess, sank in the Firth of Clyde near Greenock, Inverclyde, sparking a search and rescue operation.
The police, the coastguard and RNLI were called to the scene after the vessel went under water at the Custom House Quay on Friday.
Efforts resumed at 8am on Saturday, with divers later recovering two bodies.
It had been understood that two people were onboard when the boat capsized.
Witnesses told the Scottish Sun that the boat disappeared under the water just after 4pm on Friday.
An onlooker said: “We were here at about 3.45pm and noticed an upturned rusty hull in the water.
“There were a few small crafts round about the tug and then the coastguard turned up and they were tapping on the hull and shouting loudly.
“It was a massive emergency response. At first I thought it was a training exercise, but then it became obvious they were urgently trying to establish if anyone was under the boat.”
On Friday evening, a coastguard spokesperson said rescue teams from Helensburgh and Greenock had been scrambled, along with a lifeboat from Helensburgh RNLI and the coastguard helicopter from Prestwick.
The spokesperson added: “Multiple vessels on the Clyde in the vicinity of the incident also responded, including an MoD police vessel.”
Police Scotland confirmed on Friday that officers from the force’s dive and marine unit and air support unit had been involved in the search operation.
Formal identification is yet to take place but the next of kin of both crew members who had been reported missing have been contacted.
Ch Insp Damian Kane, local area commander, said: “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the men at this difficult time and I would ask that their privacy is respected.
“I would like to thank the local community for their patience and support as searches were ongoing and as we continue to carry out our inquiries.”
