Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI lifeboat called to assist cargo vessel near Isle of Skye
A lifeboat crew in Wester Ross was called out in the early hours of this morning to rescue a cargo vessel which had run aground.
The volunteer crews from Kyle of Lochalsh & Portree were called out at 2.18am this morning after a cargo vessel dragged her anchor and ran aground in the Breakish area of the Isle of Skye
The UK Coastguard paged the crews after receiving a call from the cargo vessel the early hours of the morning.
A Kyle RNLI spokesperson said: “The lifeboat arrived on scene at 2.40am, and found that the vessel was aground at the stern, and was being pushed ashore by the wind and choppy seas.
“The lifeboat crew made contact with the cargo vessel’s crew to check nobody was injured, and began a visual inspection of the hull of the vessel to ensure there was no obvious damage or pollution.
“The crew of the cargo vessel were trying various things to free themselves, so the lifeboat stood by to provide safety cover, should they be needed. Due to the size of the vessel, Portree lifeboat had also been called and arrived approximately an hour after Kyle lifeboat.”
With the rising tide, the vessel managed to use her own thrusters and engine to take herself off the rocks at 4.15am, and made her way into deeper water to find a safe place to anchor. Both lifeboats stood by to ensure that the vessel and crew were no longer in danger and there was no pollution risk - and UK Coastguard stood the Kyle crew down at around 5.30am while the Portree lifeboat remained on scene to wait for the arrival of a Coastguard tug.
Daniel Elliot, Helm for Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI Lifeboat, says: ‘When we arrived on scene, the vessel was aground by the bow and was being pushed further ashore by the sea and weather, with a risk of the vessel turning broadside.
“However, the crew managed to get themselves off the rocks and out into deeper water.
“It was important that we stayed on scene to ensure that there was no unseen damage underneath the waterline which could pose a risk to the crew, or any pollution coming from the vessel which could pose a danger to the environment.”
