Pagers sounded for Largs RNLI’s volunteers yesterday afternoon (Thursday 27 May) after reports over VHF radio of a vessel on fire off Inverkip, on the Firth of Clyde in western Scotland.
The inshore lifeboat made best speed to the scene shortly after the 2.15pm alert, and on arrival learned that another boat had taken the crew from the casually vessel had them in tow to nearby Inverkip Marina.
It was established the crew of the casualty vessel had extinguished the fire and as the danger was now over, with no injuries reported, the lifeboat returned to station.
Much earlier yesterday, off Scoland’s east coast, Stonehaven RNLI launched the aid of a sailing vessel with engine problems.
The vessel was heading north under sail and had reached Dunnottar Castle, just south of Stonehaven, when the wind dropped at around 1am. Attempts were made to start the engine, but these were not successful.
The crew of the inshore lifeboat Jamie Hunter escort a sailing vessel with engine trouble into Stonehaven Harbour | Credit: RNLI
As concerns grew that the tide might pull the boat towards the rocky coast, the UK Coastguard called out the station’s inshore lifeboat Jamie Hunter, which was launched at 4am.
After reaching the vessel and confirming its two crew members were safe and well, Largs RNLI put mechanic Paul Sim on board to assess the situation and he was able to get limited power from the engine — which allowed the vessel to be escorted into Stonehaven Harbour just after 7am.
Speaking just after the callout, lifeboat helm Andy Martin said: “It was certainly an early morning pager call for our volunteer crew, and they quickly got to the scene.
“It had the potential to become quite dangerous for the sailing vessel, but Paul’s mechanical experience and expertise came in very handy.
“We are pleased to have been able to help and the situation worked out with everyone recovered safe and well.”
In other lifeboat news from Scotland, Tobermory RNLI launched on Wednesday (26 May) following a report of a semi-submerged kayak with a dry bag in Sanna Bay, Ardnamurchan.
File image of Tobermory RNLI’s Severn Class lifeboat | Credit: RNLI/Sam Jones
Stornoway Coastguard confirmed that the kayak had been reported to have been washed out to sea from Loch Scavaig on the Isle of Skye and that there were no missing persons.
The lifeboat crew recovered the kayak and dry bag and transported them to Kilchoan where they were left in the care of the local Coastguard Rescue Team.
The shout came six days after a callout to a yacht which had lost its drive in the Sound of Mull last Thursday evening, 20 May. The lifeboat met the yacht at the entrance to Tobermory Bay and, using an alongside tow, assisted it to berth at the harbour pontoons.
Tobermory RNLI station coxswain David McHaffie said: “In both of these incidents, the people involved made the correct call and contacted the coastguard so that we were able to respond in good time. We would much rather be called out too early than too late.”
