Donate now

Kyle lifeboat called to fishing vessel adrift in gale force winds near Plockton

Lifeboats News Release

Kyle & Portree lifeboats were both launched after a fishing vessel, with 2 persons on board, broke its mooring during gale force winds in Plockton harbour and began drifting towards rocks

Fishing Vessel being towed by Kyle lifeboat

RNLI/Andrew MacDonald

Fishing vessel under tow

At 11:30am this morning (Thursday), the UK Coastguard paged the Kyle crew after they received reports of the fishing vessel breaking its mooring in the extremely strong winds. Kyle lifeboat, Spirit of Fred. Olsen, made best speed towards Plockton and arrived on scene at 11:45am. The lifeboat crew made sure there were no injuries onboard the casualty vessel, before taking the fishing boat under tow back to the pontoons in Plockton.

Once the fishing vessel was secured to the pontoons, Kyle lifeboat departed the scene and returned to Kyle, arriving back at 12.30pm.

Norman Finlayson, Helm for the callout, says: ‘The wind was gusting at gale force and it was quite a rough journey, however once we were on scene, we soon had the vessel under tow. The crew of the fishing vessel were very well equipped, and did exactly the right thing in calling us once they began drifting.’

Notes to editors

· For further information on the casualty vessel, please contact the UK Coastguard

· Please credit the pictures to Kyle RNLI

· This is the 18th callout of the year for the volunteer crew in Kyle

RNLI media contacts

Andrew MacDonald, Lifeboat Press Officer, 07748 707606, [email protected]

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

RNLI/Andrew MacDonald

Kyle lifeboat in rough conditions

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

Categories