Loch Ness RNLI launched on first January shout in the station's history

On Wednesday 31 January at 12:49pm, the Loch Ness RNLI lifeboat, Sheila & Dennis Tongue IV, was launched and tasked by the Aberdeen Coastguard to attend to a vessel that had broken free from its moorings and run aground by the road at Loch Dochfour.

The volunteer crew arrived at the scene at 1:06pm, where the Coastguard mobile unit was already in attendance.

The yacht, which had run aground and was sitting on its keel, had been made fast to the roadside railing of the A82 with its mast over land.

A crew member stepped on board the vessel to check for damage and water ingress, but there was none. He also confirmed that there was nobody on board.

It was agreed by both agencies that towing the yacht to its original mooring was the best course of action.

The lifeboat crew then went into an alongside tow and towed the vessel to safety.

When the vessel was secured, the crew were stood down with thanks, by the Coastguard and returned to the station at 2:40pm.

Loch Ness RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Joanna Stebbings, double-checked and mentioned that aside from being the station's first shout this year: 'It was also the first January shout in the station's history.'

Crew on the day:

Boat: Helm Chris, Robert, John, and Darroch.

Shore Crew: Joanna, Rob, Anne, Toby, Rich, Dianne, David T, Barry and Kieron.

Thank you all for a job well done!

Notes to editors

· Loch Ness lifeboat station has been operating since 2008. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/loch-ness-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

Anne Clarke, Lifeboat Press Officer, [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

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.