Skerries trawler Ocean Challenge runs aground off Whalsay

The Lerwick lifeboat has been launched and is on the scene to potentially assist if the crew decide to abandon the boat.

Local coastguard confirmed they had been called to the scene of an incident off Whalsay this morning, but could not confirm any further details as of 8.40am.

Shetland News has been told from several sources that everybody on board is safe and well and that no one was injured in the incident.

A MarineTraffic chart shows that the accident happened just before 6am when Ocean Challenge ran aground at a speed of 10 knots.

The 28-metre trawler got stuck on rocks off Brough, Whalsay, in the early hours of the morning.

Built at Mooney Boats yard in Killybegs, the Ocean Challenge arrived in her home port of Skerries in late 2020.

The £5 million vessel replaced the Ocean Way, which sank in March 2017.