Kyle & Mallaig lifeboats launched to trawler hard aground at Kylerhea narrows

Kyle lifeboat Spirit of Fred. Olsen launched into a snowstorm at 5:48pm, and made best speed towards the vessel, arriving on scene at 6:00pm. On arrival the vessel was on the rocks and was listing slightly to port, however the 7 crew on board were all accounted for and uninjured. The UK Coastguard helicopter from Inverness arrived on scene, however at this point there was no danger to the crew so the helicopter was stood down and returned to base.

The tide was coming in rapidly, and approximately 10 minutes later the vessel began to move, however the notorious tides in the narrows were running at 6.5 knots, and began to pivot the vessel around the rock, forcing the boat hard aground and the lean soon increased to 26 degrees, with the potential for this to increase as the tide pressed against the side of the trawler forcing it further towards capsizing. The fishing vessel’s crew readied their life raft and got prepared to abandon the vessel should the boat capsize. The lifeboat could not get alongside the trawler, but stood by to rescue any fishermen who entered the water.

At 6:30pm Mallaig lifeboat arrived on scene, and a couple of minutes later the tide rose sufficiently that the trawler began to level off and then came off the rocks. Due to the nature of the grounding the vessel decided to go to the nearest port so that they could inspect it for damage, therefore they headed for Mallaig. Mallaig lifeboat shadowed the boat back to harbour to ensure it made it safely, and Kyle lifeboat returned to station.

Kyle lifeboat was refuelled and made ready for service by 7:30pm

Jonathon MacKinnon, RNLI Helm for Kyle’s Lifeboat, says: ‘This was a rapidly evolving situation which became extremely serious when the tide began to force the vessel over. There was the potential for it to go wrong quite quickly, so it was a relief to see the vessel float free 20 minutes later.’

Notes to editors

· Please credit the pictures to Kyle RNLI

· This is the first shout of 2024 for the Kyle volunteers

· Please contact the UK Coastguard for further details regarding the vessel involved

RNLI media contacts

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

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Tom McGuire, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland and Ireland, 00353 87 476 4436, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

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