Kirkwall RNLI rescue fishing crew from stricken vessel
Kirkwall's volunteer crew launched at the request of the UK Coastguard to a fishing vessel aground on rocks on the island of Westray.
The lifeboat arrived on scene at 10.50am to find the vessel hard aground on a shelf of rock.
They were assisted by two other vessels along with the Westray Coastguard team on the cliff top.
After launching the lifeboat's Y boat and passing a tow rope, the lifeboat attempted to pull the vessel clear from the rocks only for the tow rope to part twice.
A rocket line was fired from the lifeboat to pass the tow rope for a third time but once again this parted so the decision was made for the crew to abandon the fishing vessel. They were recovered by the Y boat and brought safely onboard Kirkwall lifeboat.
The lifeboat departed the scene and landed the fishing crew at Rapness, Westray before returning to Kirkwall where the lifeboat was washed down, refuelled and was ready for service again by 15.20pm.
Key facts about the RNLI
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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