Fishing boats run aground

TWO northeast fishing boats ran aground in harbours in Shetland in two separate incidents, on Thursday night.

The Buckie registered Vela (BCK368) became stuck at the entrance to Scalloway harbour, earlier the same evening.

The skipper of the 24 metre vessel with five crew on board, alerted Shetland coastguard that they had been navigating too close to shore  because one of the buoys marking the harbour entrance wasn’t working.

Shetland coastguard scrambled the Sumburgh search and rescue helicopter and launched Aith lifeboat. Both were stood down later.

A spokesman said the vessel had hit the ground when the tide was at its lowest. She was later pulled off by her pair trawling partner Nordfjordr (PD118).

There were no reports of damage to the vessel and no one was injured. S

Meanwhile, the Banff registered Aquarius (BF89) ran aground in Lerwick harbour after she broke down on her way to the fish market.

She was towed off by the Lerwick lifeboat at the height of last night’s gales.