A young Scots seaman has been found dead on board a ship in Hong Kong.

An investigation is underway after Andrew Macleod, 21, was found dead on Friday morning.

The merchant seaman, from Lewis in the Western Isles, was discovered in his cabin at around 2am local time (around 9am in Hong Kong).

The boat, a container ship called the MV Ever Sigma, had recently docked in Hong Kong harbour.

The engineering cadet was on his last trip at sea and was expected to qualify with flying colours.

He was getting in his sea time before starting his final phase at Glasgow Nautical College in January, and was due to sit his final exams in July.

His parents Murdo, a safety officer with Western Isles Council and Dolina, a catering manager at the Nicolson Institute canteen, were believed to have been in Glasgow when they received the news. They are expected to fly out to Hong Kong over the weekend.

Iain Spreadborough, managing director of training agency Safe Ship Training Group said news of his death was a shock.

"Everyone at SSTG is extremely saddened by the news and our sympathies are with his family, he said.

"We understand the Evergreen is making arrangements for the family to fly out to China over the weekend.

"At this stage we have no idea of the cause of death."

He said Mr Macleod was heading for a successful career at sea and consistently achieved high standards during his training. There was little doubt he would qualify as a ship’s engineer.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We were made aware of the death of a British national, Andrew MacLeod, in Hong Kong on 21 October.

"We stand ready to provide consular assistance."

The giant 300m long container ship sails a shuttle route between China and Europe. The boat has a deadweight of 78,693 tonnes and is presently sailing along Asian ports on the Pacific Ocean.

She had departed Taipei on Wednesday and docked in Hong Kong harbour on Thursday.