RNLI Longhope Lifeboat rescues vessel from imminent danger.
Mayday received from small vessel in trouble by rocky shore at Hunda, Orkney
Longhope lifeboat crew were paged tonight, 13 September 2017, at 19.45hrs by UK Coastguard. They were under way seven minutes later to a vessel in distress at the north side of the uninhabited island of Hunda, off the shore of Burray.
Two persons were aboard the 8metre boat Peerie Yin which had suffered engine failure. The anchor had been dropped but unfortunately the anchor line broke. As the lifeboat approached, the stricken vessel was beam onto the shore and minutes away from suffering damage from the rocks.
Manoeuvring in shallow waters with moderate sea conditions and a northerly wind the lifeboat managed to establish a tow and bring the vessel into deeper waters. They then towed the vessel to Flotta and brought it safely alongside the pier.
The lifeboat returned to station at 22.10hrs, refuelled and made ready again for service.
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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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