Fishing Vessel Saved Off Stornoway

Friday, August 21, 2009
Posted 20:22 GMT

The Stornoway Coastguard Rescue Helicopter has helped prevent a fishing vessel from sinking which had been transporting Guga collectors to the small island of Sula Sgeir today.

At 4.42pm Stornoway Coastguard was contacted on VHF ch16 by the fishing vessel Heather Isle M, reporting that they were taking water off Bayble Island. Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R100 was scrambled, Stornoway RNLI lifeboat launched and the Fisheries Protection Vessel Norna was asked to assist the vessel.

Three crewmen from the fishing vessel were airlifted to the helicopter and a pump was passed to the vessel. The ingress of water was stemmed and the vessel saved from sinking before the Heather Isle M was escorted to Stornoway by the lifeboat.

The Heather Isle M is a Stornoway based fishing vessel which had been transferring a number of Guga collectors to Sula Sgeir, 40 miles off the Butt of Lewis in fairly rough conditions with Gale Force 8 winds. Collecting Guga (a delicacy made from Gannets) is a traditional local custom and the collectors will spend the next two weeks on the tiny Island.

For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office
023 8032 9401