Catamaran found upturned in Thames Estuary 

Police appeal for anyone with information to get in touch

Kent police are growing increasingly concerned for the safety of a possible missing sailor after the discovery of an upturned catamaran in the Thames estuary.  

Police and coastguard rescue teams carried out a search for potential occupants of the vessel, a white New Cat 12 model, which was found by a merchant vessel about 25 miles north-east of North Foreland in Thanet, Kent, just after 8pm on Saturday.  

Air-sea search

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has confirmed that an air-sea search involving a Coastguard helicopter from Lydd and RNLI lifeboats from Margate and Ramsgate was unable to locate anyone.  

Rescuers earlier discovered a black North Face rucksack containing clothes, maps and a small quantity of cash on board the vessel, which has the serial number 7064-1999.  

Coastguard rescue teams are conducting a shoreline search to try and gather more information, whilst Kent police are also carrying out investigations.

Appeal for information

A police spokesman said the vessel was being kept at the Port of Ramsgate, adding: “Our officers are growing increasingly concerned for whoever may have been sailing the vessel and are appealing for anyone with information to get in touch by calling 101 and quoting reference 26-1235.”