Cargo boat aground sparks 'Mayday' call
Oban RNLI Lifeboat launched on service this afternoon (15 December) following a Mayday call from a cargo boat aground under the Connel bridge.
At 3.10pm today Oban lifeboat was tasked to respond to a Mayday call from the cargo ship Havgul. The vessel had been entering Loch Etive during the short period of slack water, when it's safe to navigate the 'Falls of Lora' at the entrance to the loch.
At peak flow on a spring tide the Falls can run at up to twelve knots with over 4,600 tons of water passing through the narrow gap every second. Fortunately the grounding took place at slack water when there was no tidal movement.
The volunteer crew made best speed to the scene and arrived just in time to see the vessel refloat on the rising tide, it then proceeded to make it's way back out of the loch under it's own power.
With no immediate damage, the vessel rerouted to Craignure, with Oban lifeboat standing by in case any assistance was required.
Once safely alongside, and awaiting divers for a hull inspection, Oban lifeboat was free to return back to Oban. Once back at the berth, she was refuelled and made ready for service again by 5.52pm.
Notes to editor;
Photos attached show Oban lifeboat arriving on scene and with the vessel, thanks to Stephen Lawson for these.
RNLI media contacts:
Leonie Woolf, Oban Lifeboat Deputy Press Officer
Tel: 07818 861517/ 01631 569735 Email: [email protected]
Or Richard Smith, Public Relations Manager Scotland on 01738 642956, 07786 668903 or
Or Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642946, 07771 943026,
Or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.
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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 146,000 lives.
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