Premier Jennifer Smith has sent her condolences to the families of the two lost crewmen on board the ill-fated New Nuts fishing boat.

Ms Smith sent her sympathies to both the families of Alan Edness, 56, and Micah Battersbee, 29, who are believed to have drowned when the boat overturned and was ultimately sunk by a freak wave during stormy weather off the Bermuda coast on Tuesday night.

The Premier expressed her deep sorrow at the incident, and said she was particularly affected by the tragedy as Mr. Edness was her first cousin.

She said the family had last been together on December 28.

The Premier said she had spoken with Mr. Edness's long-time partner, Kathy, and his sister Maureen, and while grieving herself, had taken time out to extend personal sympathy to the families of both men.

After receiving news that the two missing fishermen were presumed lost at sea, the Premier said: "My thoughts and prayers are with their families at this time.

"While I was comforted to hear that Mr. Lambe had been rescued, I was deeply saddened to learn all hope for the two crew members was gone."

And speaking from England, where she was attending the Biennial Bermuda Seminar at St. Antony's College in Oxford, she added: "I would also like to recognise the bravery of the men and women who took part in the search and rescue mission.

"I thank them all for their dedication to a most daunting task."