Sea rescue off Kinlochbervie
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A major rescue was carried out in The Minch off North West Sutherland after a boat with three people on board started sinking in 50 knot winds and big seas yesterday.
HM Coastguard co-ordinated the air and sea operation - which lasted nearly nine hours - after the fishing vessel Ranger reported it was taking on water.
A "Mayday" came in just after 1.20pm from the vessel which was 15 miles west of Kinlochbervie.
Lochinver RNLI Lifeboat was launched and the coastguard helicopter from Stornoway transferred the lifeboat pump to the stricken vessel.
A cargo vessel and the Coastguard’s Emergency Towing Vessel are also sent to the scene.
The coastguard helicopter returned to base to pick up a second pump.
Stornoway RNLI Lifeboat later relieved Lochinver Lifeboat and with two pumps in place on board the FV Ranger headed for Stornoway harbour under her own power, with the lifeboat and the coastguard tug Ievoli Black providing back-up support. She arrived around 10pm.
Matthew Mace, duty controller for HM Coastguard said the weather conditions - with 20ft swell and 50 knot winds - were "pretty rough."
"We needed to keep the lifeboat and coastguard helicopter tasked to this incident to provide further support in case there was a need to rescue the crew," he said.
