Update as of 3pm 16^th July 2012

Police have located a life jacket and two oars in the area off the Port Sorell Estuary but unfortunately no sign of Mr Smith at this time. "We have confirmed the life jacket as being one that belonged to Mr Smith and we strongly believe the oars are his also," said Inspector Steven.

Aircraft, vessels and land parties are continuing to search but the survivability time of Mr Smith if he is in the water is rapidly diminishing.

"We obviously hold grave fears for Mr Smith's safety at this time," Inspector Steven said.

By last light today searches will have covered 1,000 square nautical miles and the complete coast line from Burnie to Badges Head, if there are no further developments today, the search will be reassessed.

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Police are continuing their search for a missing 37 year old Chasm Creek man, Kim Smith who was last seen about midnight on Saturday night in a 3.8m white fibre glass dingy on the Blyth River.  From police investigations to date it is possible that Mr Smith was intending to row to the area of Titan Point about 1 km west of the Blyth River.

Currently there are two helicopters and a fix winged aircraft along with two vessels and several land search parties involved in the search for Mr Smith and his dingy and also a further clinker built dingy that may have been in Mr Smith’s possession

Mr Smith is described as 185cm tall, slim build with a muscular upper body and wavy dark shoulder length hair

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 131 444.

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