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Stromness RNLI stood-by boats

Lifeboats News Release

The volunteer crew of Stromness Lifeboat was paged late at night to assisit a crabber with engine problems not far from the harbour.

RNLI

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On Monday 25th October the volunteer crew of Stromness lifeboat, Violet Dorothy and Kathleen, was paged at 22:00 to go to the aid of a crabber with engine problems in Hoy Sound.

Hoy Sound is the strongly tidal stream connecting Scapa Flow in the west with the open Atlantic. It is a difficult place to be at the best of times and certainly no place to be with engine trouble. The casualty's sister boat was standing by and when the lifeboat arrived a few minutes later the crew of the crabber had managed to re-start the engine. Violet Dorothy and Kathleen stood by whilst the two boats made it safely back to harbour.

With a tide of several knots, a poor night and rocks all around it would have been only too easy for a drifting boat to run aground. Imagine the relief when the lifeboat arrived.

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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

About the author

Richard Clubley
Lifeboat Press Officer, Stromness

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