Kessock and Invergordon lifeboat crews recover stricken motor cruiser
RNLI volunteers from both Kessock and Invergordon were paged at 3.14pm on Sunday 2 June to go to the aid of a disabled motor cruiser with 2 people on board.
The 47 foot, 18 tonne, motor cruiser had suffered suspected fuel problems while it was in the vicinity of the Chanonry Point narrows leading to engine failure.
Launching in a light westerly wind, calm sea conditions and an ebbing tide Kessock’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Robert and Isobel Mowat, made good speed through the Inverness Firth to try and locate the casualty vessel.
Having established communication with the two people on board the cruiser using VHF, the lifeboat’s direction finding VHF capability and on board radar were used to pinpoint their exact location.
Arriving on the scene, Rob Bashford, RNLI Kessock Helmsman said ‘When the crew on board the motor cruiser realised their situation they laid their anchor to prevent the situation getting any worse before we arrived. They called for help at the right and had the right kit to make that call when they needed to do it.’
Rob sent one of his crew onboard the cruiser to make sure that everyone was well and uninjured.
With the tide continuing to fall, the lifeboat crew confirmed with Inverness Marina they would offer a berth to the stricken vessel.
Kessock volunteers took the cruiser undertow and started the passage back to Inverness while waiting the arrival of Invergordon’s larger Trent Class lifeboat. After they arrived, the tow was passed over and Invergordon volunteers took the cruiser back to Inverness.
Kessock lifeboat and her crew then returned to the lifeboat station at North Kessock to recover the lifeboat and prepare it for further service calls.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact:
Dan Holland, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, RNLI Kessock, 07900 567 496 [email protected]
Gemma McDonald, Regional Media Manager (Scotland), 07826 900639 or [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, Regional Media Officer (Scotland), 07920 365929 or [email protected]
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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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