Kyle & Portree RNLI crews called to 80 metre Cargo Vessel which ran aground

The UK Coastguard paged the crews after receiving a call from the cargo vessel the early hours of the morning. Kyle lifeboat Spirit of Fred. Olsen launched at 2:25am and made best speed towards the scene through choppy weather.

The lifeboat arrived on scene at 2:40am, and found that the vessel was aground at the stern, and was being pushed ashore by the wind and choppy seas. The lifeboat crew made contact with the cargo vessel’s crew to check nobody was injured, and began a visual inspection of the hull of the vessel to ensure there was no obvious damage or pollution. The crew of the cargo vessel were trying various things to free themselves, so the lifeboat stood by to provide safety cover, should they be needed. Due to the size of the vessel, Portree lifeboat had also been called and arrived approximately an hour after Kyle lifeboat.

With the rising tide, the vessel managed to use her own thrusters and engine to take herself off the rocks at 4:15am, and made her way into deeper water to find a safe place to anchor. Both lifeboats stood by to ensure that the vessel and crew were no longer in danger and there was no pollution risk.

At 5:25am, the UK Coastguard stood Kyle lifeboat down, but kept Portree on scene to provide safety cover until a Coastguard tug arrives on scene. Kyle lifeboat then returned to station at 5:40am where the crew refuelled the boat and made it ready for service again.

Daniel Elliot, Helm for Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI Lifeboat, says: ‘When we arrived on scene, the vessel was aground by the stern and was being pushed further ashore by the sea and weather, with a risk of the vessel turning broadside. However, the crew managed to get themselves off the rocks and out into deeper water. It was important that we stayed on scene to ensure that there was no unseen damage underneath the waterline which could pose a risk to the crew, or any pollution coming from the vessel which could pose a danger to the environment.’

Notes to editors

· Please credit photos to Kyle RNLI

· Higher quality versions of the photos are available on request

· This is the second shout of 2025 for the Kyle volunteer crew

RNLI media contacts

Andrew MacDonald, Kyle of Lochalsh Lifeboat Press Officer on 07748 707606 or [email protected]

Natasha Bennett, Regional Communications Manager on 07826 900639 or [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, Regional Communications Lead on 07920 365929 or [email protected]

RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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