AND NOW THE SHIPPING FORECAST ISSUED BY THE MET OFFICE, ON BEHALF OF THE MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY, AT 0505 ON FRIDAY 12 MARCH 2010

THERE ARE WARNINGS OF GALES IN SOUTH UTSIRE AND FISHER

THE GENERAL SYNOPSIS AT MIDNIGHT HIGH 120 MILES WEST OF SHANNON 1033 SLOW MOVING, INTENSIFYING 1037 BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT

THE AREA FORECASTS FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS

VIKING NORTH UTSIRE NORTH BACKING NORTHWEST 5 TO 7. MODERATE BECOMING ROUGH. RAIN OR SHOWERS, FOG BANKS IN NORTH UTSIRE AT FIRST. MODERATE OR GOOD, OCCASIONALLY VERY POOR IN NORTH UTSIRE

SOUTH UTSIRE NORTH OR NORTHWEST 5 TO 7, INCREASING GALE 8 AT TIMES. MODERATE OR ROUGH. RAIN OR SHOWERS, FOG BANKS AT FIRST. MODERATE, OCCASIONALLY VERY POOR AT FIRST

FORTIES CROMARTY FORTH TYNE DOGGER NORTH BACKING NORTHWEST 5 OR 6. SLIGHT OR MODERATE, BECOMING ROUGH LATER IN EAST FORTIES. SHOWERS. MODERATE OR GOOD

FISHER GERMAN BIGHT WEST 4 OR 5, OCCASIONALLY 6, VEERING NORTHWEST 5 TO 7, INCREASING GALE 8 AT TIMES IN FISHER. SLIGHT OR MODERATE BECOMING MODERATE OR ROUGH. OCCASIONAL RAIN OR DRIZZLE, FOG BANKS IN EAST. MODERATE OR GOOD, OCCASIONALLY VERY POOR IN EAST

HUMBER THAMES WEST VEERING NORTH OR NORTHWEST 4 OR 5, INCREASING 6 FOR A TIME. SLIGHT, OCCASIONALLY MODERATE. OCCASIONAL RAIN OR SHOWERS. MODERATE OR GOOD

DOVER WIGHT PORTLAND PLYMOUTH NORTHWEST 3 OR 4 VEERING NORTH OR NORTHEAST 5 OR 6. SLIGHT, OCCASIONALLY MODERATE. FAIR THEN SHOWERS. MODERATE OR GOOD

BISCAY NORTH OR NORTHEAST 4 OR 5, INCREASING 6 AT TIMES. SLIGHT OR MODERATE. FAIR THEN SHOWERS. MODERATE OR GOOD

FITZROY NORTHEASTERLY 5 TO 7. MODERATE OR ROUGH. SHOWERS. MODERATE OR GOOD

SOLE LUNDY FASTNET NORTH OR NORTHWEST 4 OR 5, INCREASING 6 AT TIMES. MAINLY MODERATE, OCCASIONALLY SLIGHT IN LUNDY AND FASTNET. MAINLY FAIR, SHOWERS FOR A TIME. MODERATE OR GOOD

IRISH SEA NORTH OR NORTHWEST 5 OR 6 DECREASING 3 OR 4 LATER. SLIGHT, OCCASIONALLY MODERATE. MAINLY FAIR. GOOD

SHANNON NORTHERLY 3 OR 4, INCREASING 5 FOR A TIME. MODERATE. SHOWERS. GOOD

ROCKALL MALIN NORTH BACKING WEST OR NORTHWEST 4 OR 5, OCCASIONALLY 6 IN MALIN AT FIRST. MODERATE OR ROUGH. SHOWERS. GOOD

HEBRIDES BAILEY NORTH 4 OR 5 BACKING WEST OR NORTHWEST 5 OR 6. MODERATE OR ROUGH. SHOWERS. MODERATE OR GOOD

FAIR ISLE FAEROES NORTH BACKING WEST OR NORTHWEST 5 OR 6, INCREASING 7 FOR A TIME. MODERATE OR ROUGH. SHOWERS THEN OCCASIONAL RAIN OR DRIZZLE. MODERATE OR GOOD, OCCASIONALLY POOR