5 Crew Rescued From Sinking Fishing Vessel
Friday, April 30, 2010
Posted 17:00 GMT
At 5:30am today, Stornoway Coastguard received a Mayday call from the Irish registered fishing vessel AINMIRE, 30 miles West Northwest of the Butt of Lewis. The crew reported that the vessel was taking on water and they require immediate assistance.
Stornoway Coastguard re-broadcast the distress to other ships in the area and scrambled the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter, Rescue 100, from Stornoway and requested the launch of the Stornoway RNLI Lifeboat.
The Fishing Vessel Our Hazel responded to the distress call from the Coastguard and rescued the 5 crew from the AINMIRE, who were all wearing survival suits and life jackets. All the crew are reported to be safe and well but the AINMIRE is listing heavily and expected to sink very soon.
Watch Manager Martin Collins says: The crew of the Our Hazel is to be congratulated on their rescue this morning. Their prompt response has made sure that the AINMIRE crew are now safe and averted what could have been a disaster. Although the vessel remains afloat, any hope of saving it has, unfortunately, gone.
For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office
023 8032 9401
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office
023 8032 9401