Emergency services / Fifteen crew members winched off fishing boat after running aground
FIFTEEN crew members were airlifted from a fishing vessel in the early hours of Sunday morning after it ran aground on rocks west of Shetland.
The 30m Coelleira ran into trouble at the Vee Skerries, which are found just west of Papa Stour.
The Sumburgh based coastguard helicopter was alerted, as was the Aith lifeboat, at around 1.30am.
The Lerwick and Sumburgh coastguard rescue teams were also called out.
The 15 crew members were reported as having no injuries, and all were wearing life jackets. The vessel did not appear to be taking in any water.
The crew were winched off the vessel and taken to the Clickimin landing site in Lerwick, with the two rescue teams, the police and the Fishermen’s Mission on scene to provide assistance.
They were then checked over in hospital.
15 crew winched off fishing vessel grounded in South Skerries, Shetland
HM Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter based at Sumburgh winches 15 crew off fishing vessel grounded in South Skerries, Shetland (4 August)
Posted by Maritime and Coastguard Agency on Sunday, 4 August 2019
The Aith Lifeboat returned to the scene at around 11.20am on Sunday to check on the vessel, and crew reported an oily sheen – but it is unclear where it has come from.
The coastguard emergency towing vessel Ievoli Black arrived on the scene at around 6pm.
The fishing vessel’s master and chief engineer were transferred back onboard late Sunday afternoon to undertake an inspection of engines and propeller, and to see the extend of any other damage.
During this inspection, however, the vessel took on a greater list to port and the personnel were recovered to their support vessel before returning to Scalloway.
The wider Maritime and Coastguard Agency response organisation has been activated, with the duty counter pollution and salvage office (DCSPO), duty secretary of states representative (SOSRep) and duty survey and inspections officer all engaged with the incident.
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