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Missing fisherman Darren Allen, 37. - Source: Supplied -
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A shoreline search this afternoon has failed to turn up any sign of two fishermen missing in Doubtful Sound, Fiordland.
Hopes are fading for K'Cee skipper Bruce Gordon, 42, and crew member Darren Allen, 37, who were on the vessel when it sunk in rough seas on Monday.
Ten search and rescue personnel along with police were helicoptered into the area to carry out a shoreline foot search on Secretary Island this afternoon.
The search covered an area of shoreline approximately 1km in the vicinity of Rocky Point, where the K'Cee's bow was located on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, two helicopters performed an aerial search, and two boats were also used to check the area.
With no new evidence of the men's whereabouts, searchers say they will now analyse tide patterns and currents to decide the next step.
So far Police, local Te Anau SAR staff, commercial fishing vessels and an Airforce Orion have put in almost 40 hours of searching.
Police said they had hoped for a better outcome at this stage, and their thoughts and sympathies remain with all families involved.
Lifeboat discovered
Searchers recovered two wooden floorboards from an inflatable dingy that had been on the boat about 10km north off the coast of Secretary Island yesterday.
They have also recovered a bladder from the inflatable liferaft, which matches the one on the raft of the K'Cee.
The semi-submerged hull of the boat was found on Tuesday 16km off Secretary Island.
"We still haven't found the wheelhouse, so that would clearly indicate to us that there's been some fairly large impact to cause that much damage," Todd said.
It is believed the boat sank in rough weather conditions.
"The swell was anywhere between 2.5 up to 6.9 metres, so you know, that's quite extreme," Todd said on Tuesday.
"Having said that, the local skipper I understand is very experienced, with his vessel but also with the local area, and the local conditions."
Gordon rescued eight people in March after their catamaran sunk in bad weather at Doubtful Sound.
Environment Southland said it has a response team on standby in case oil spills from the boat.
There have been no reports of oil so far.