A SURVEY will be carried out at the site of a sunken vessel that is of “significant interest” to the search for a missing boat off the coast of Conwy.

Deep water rescue specialist David Mearns launched a 3D sonar survey on Monday, April 12 to assist the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of the Nicola Faith. A shipwreck was discovered by the UK Government Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) about 1.9 nautical miles off Colwyn Bay and at a depth of 15 metres on Tuesday, April 6.

Police divers are expected to inspect the boat as part of the ongoing investigation. It is hoped the recovery of the Nicola Faith will provide answers over the cause of its disappearance on January 27.

Picture: David Mearns OAM/Twitter

Picture: David Mearns OAM/Twitter

Mr Mearns, who is carrying out a private search following a huge fundraising effort led by the families of the crew members, tweeted on Monday: “Survey vessel PULSAR launched this morning to start 3D sonar survey of the wreck found by MAIB. The families have funded this survey to inform the police divers about the condition of the wreck before they dive.

“Hopeful it is the NICOLA FAITH #findNicolaFaith.”

Sadly, the bodies of three crew members, Ross Ballantine, 39, Carl McGrath, 34, and Alan Minard, 20, have been identified after being discovered on the Wirral and Blackpool.

The expertise of Mr Mearns, who helped to recover the wreckage of the plane carrying Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala, was acquired after a huge fundraising effort gathered more than £84,000.

A Notice of Direction to Prohibit Access has been issued within a 200-metre radius of the sunken vessel. The notice prohibits anchoring, fishing by nets, trawls or lines, and unauthorised diving operations.

MAIB, which is probing the disappearance of the fishing boat on January 27, acquired the use of the Rhodri Morgan from the Welsh Government last month and has covered more than 30 square miles of seabed.

The Nicola Faith fishing boat pictured at Conwy harbour. Picture: Roger Fox

The Nicola Faith fishing boat pictured at Conwy harbour. Picture: Roger Fox

A MAIB spokesperson said on Tuesday: "A sunken vessel deemed to be of significant interest has been located in the Colwyn Bay area by an MAIB commissioned vessel searching for the missing fishing vessel Nicola Faith.

"The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents has issued a ‘Notice of Direction to Prohibit Access’ around the wreck requiring that it be left undisturbed until further notice, pending further investigation by the MAIB."

MAIB previously said it had identified the vessel’s primary operating area, which it said has been searched "with a considerable amount of overlap".

"The specialist equipment that is being used is extremely sensitive and the search has been hampered by poor weather in recent weeks," a MAIB spokesperson said.

He has hired survey contractor SEP Hydrographic with equipment including a multi-beam sonar and side-scanner.

The search has covered areas about 4.5km off the Great Orme and ruled out possible sightings including an 11-metre shipwreck and a patch of diesel fuel off Pen Trwyn point.

The families are understood to have been kept fully updated on the ongoing search efforts.