A 17ft GRP motorboat on passage from Norway to the Shetland Islands has gone missing near the Frigg oil field.

Helmed by an Icelander armed with only a handheld VHF, the boat was refuelled by a sailing yacht near the Frigg oilfield but has not been heard of since.

Shetland Coastguard have been making Pan (urgency) broadcasts into the area for other shipping to look out for the boat. Two helicopters – one from Shetland the other from Norway are searching the area about 100 miles east of Lerwick. Winds are forecast at up to Force 7.