Aith RNLI assist creel boat back to harbour
The Aith Lifeboat was called out early on Tuesday morning after a local fishing boat suffered engine problems to the west of Shetland.
Lifeboat volunteers left Aith onboard the RNLI Charles Lidbury soon after being alerted at 5.40am, steaming to an area around 4 and a half miles north of Foula to assist the 10 metre creel boat that had broken down.
The lifeboat crew, having assessed the situation, decided to tow the stricken vessel into Scalloway Harbour – with no other boats nearby to offer any assistance.
The creel boat – with two crew members onboard – was towed safely back into port by 11.20am. After a welcome delivery of Cornerstone bacon rolls, following their early start, the RNLI crew made their way back to base in Aith – tying up there again by 1.15pm.
Aith Lifeboat Coxswain, John Robertson, commented that the creel boat crew had done the right thing in calling for assistance.
“Our volunteer RNLI crew all performed their duties perfectly, resulting in a textbook towing operation and an efficient operation”.
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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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