Donate now

Aith RNLI tow small boat to safety

Lifeboats News Release

Aith’s volunteer lifeboat crew were called out on Tuesday evening to assist a small hobby fishing vessel which had broken down off the west side of Shetland.

RNLI

Under tow into West Burrafirth
An under 10 metre boat raised the alarm with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency after losing propulsion near West Burrafirth, and – drifting closer into the coast – the situation began to require rescue intervention.

By deploying makeshift drogues, the owner of the small vessel had been able to slow the boat’s drift whilst RNLI volunteers came to the rescue aboard Aith’s Severn class lifeboat Charles Lidbury.

The small fishing boat was taken under tow and safely returned to port in West Burrafirth, where members of the Walls Coastguard Rescue Team assembled to assist with securing the rescued vessel.

Ends


Note to editors

Aith lifeboat station has been operating for over 80 years, and is the most northerly in the UK. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/aith-lifeboat-station

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

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