An investigation has been launched into what caused 30 crewmen to be struck down with suspected food poisoning off the Western Isles, health officials have said.
Six men were in hospital on the Isle of Lewis while another 24 were being treated on board the Yeoman Bridge cargo ship after a doctor was flown to the vessel.
A spokesman for NHS Western Isles said that the crew, who are thought to be Ukrainian, had all eaten salmon, although it had not yet been confirmed that this was responsible for their illness.
He added that a major incident response team had been set up and would meet later today to hear reports from public health specialists.
The six crew were taken from their 50,000 tonne vessel by RNLI lifeboat to Lewis yesterday morning, after radioing coastguards for help.
They were then transferred by ambulance to the Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway, where their condition was described as stable.
The Yeoman Bridge anchored close to Stornoway Harbour and last night a doctor and police officer were winched by helicopter to the vessel following reports that more crew were becoming ill.
Extra medical supplies were also flown to the ship after it was decided the remaining crew did not need to be hospitalised.
The Yeoman Bridge, which is a Bahamas-registered boat, had been travelling from Hamburg in Germany and was on its way to Glensanda on the Scottish mainland when the crew took ill.