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Stromness RNLI supports fishing boat rescue of 17 people at Old Man of Hoy

Lifeboats News Release

At 6.30am Thursday 1 October, a large fishing vessel ran aground at the base of the Orkney landmark, Old Man of Hoy.

A helicopter is winching a crew man down to the casualty vessel

RNLI/Richard Clubley

Helicopter winching operations at scene
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The casualty vessel transmitted a Mayday call and Stromness Lifeboat, Violet Dorothy and Kathleen, was quickly on the scene. The Stromness to Scrabster car ferry, MV Hamnavoe, was passing as she had left her berth in Stromness Harbour a few minutes earlier for the 90-minute run to Scrabster on the Scottish Mainland.

The crew of Hamnavoe put their fast launch into the water and stood by the casualty, along with the lifeboat.

HM Coastguard helicopter arrived from Shetland and winched 17 persons from the deck of the casualty vessel for transfer to Kirkwall Airport.

A tug is due to attend from Orkney to assess the possibility of refloating the vessel.
Brightly lit trawler in early morning light with lifeboat to the left

RNLI/Richard Clubley

Trawler and Lifeboat (left) at the base of Hoy cliffs
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RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Richard Clubley, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Scotland, [email protected]

Linda Barclay, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, 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.

About the author

Richard Clubley
Lifeboat Press Officer, Stromness

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