Kessock Lifeboat crew moves quickly to secure drifting motor vessel
The volunteer crew of RNLI Kessock Lifeboat were paged at 12.03pm yesterday (Saturday 11 June 2022) to the aid of a motor vessel which was dragging its mooring and was drifting with pace on the outgoing tide.
Kessock’s Atlantic 85 launched from the West slipway where the assembled crew on the boat and ashore could see the casualty vessel in the centre of the Beauly Firth adjacent to the North Kessock Pier.
As the lifeboat launched the gusts of wind from the force 5 South Westerly presented some interesting conditions requiring quick thinking and team work from the boat crew.
At the Helm of the Robert and Isobel Mowat was Senior Helm Doug Grant who said, “As we approached the motor vessel it was quickly taken by the outgoing tide. We needed to act fast to prevent it from being a danger to navigation to the yachts that were afloat in the Firth. I instructed the crew to secure the boat in a tow and they were able to react quickly and efficiently to make the situation safe.”
On board was experienced crew member Hayley MacDonald who transferred from the charity lifeboat to the casualty vessel to secure the tow line. She said, “Although there was no-one on board it was clear that the boat presented a danger to other boats or could end up aground on the shoreline. Our weekly training pays off in these situations where we knew what to do safely because we practise for every scenario.”
The motor vessel was taken in an astern tow into the more sheltered conditions of the River Ness at the mouth of the Marina, where the crew transferred into an alongside tow and safely recovered the boat to a very grateful local owner.
If you would like to support your local RNLI Lifesavers they are recruiting for Events Crew of all ages and backgrounds. Keep an eye on RNLI Kessock Lifeboat social media pages for more information. There is a new members' Welcome Meeting at the Lifeboat Station on Tuesday 21st May at 7pm and all are very welcome. If you would like to attend or have any questions email [email protected].
RNLI media contacts
Yvette Kershaw , Lifeboat Press Officer, 07809 116153, [email protected]
Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
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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 over 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 142,200 lives.
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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.