Invergordon Lifeboat called into action after car enters Cromarty Firth
Aberdeen’s HM Coastguard requested the launch of the RNLI Invergordon Lifeboat at 10:25am Monday 15th April to assist when a car had reported to have entered with water via a slipway on the Black Isle village of Cromarty
The Volunteer crew launched the RNLI All-weather Trent Class Lifeboat at 10.33am, with a crew of 7 and made best speed towards Cromarty, with crew preparing the XP Daughter craft on route, ready to deploy once on scene.
Arriving on scene some 10 minutes after leaving the West Harbour berth, with members of the public and a local Coastguard Team on shore indicating roughly where the car was last seen, and confirming no persons trapped, the volunteer crew launched the XP Daughter boat and surveyed the area for debris and signs of possible pollution.
Given the timescale, wind and tide conditions, the ALB crew searched slightly further out than the estimated 50 metres offshore to ensure no visible signs of debris and pollution.
With no pollution to report, and very little debris to be found, the ALB crew carried out a sweep of the area and with the help of the ALB fitted Echo Sound, the crew could make an object out around 15m of water in the area the car was last seen. With the Co-ordinates passed to local authorities and with all parties satisfied, the crew recovered the XP boat and the 2 crew, the ALB was then released from service to make the journey back up the Firth to Invergordon West Harbour.
Invergordon Lifeboat spokesperson Michael MacDonald stated “After such an unfortunate accident, it was reassuring to confirm that no persons were in the vehicle at the time”
The Lifeboat was refuelled and made ready for service by 12.30pm.
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