Contact newsdesk on:  info@hebridesnews.co.uk

Classified adverts   I   Jobs                               

 Local Services     

 

Hebrides News

A drifting ship which nearly crashed onto rocks in the Minch has been brought under tow.

 

78 mph gusts were blowing the disabled Lerwick-registered salmon carrier MV Norholm dangerously towards the shore after she lost engine power around 7.40pm on Sunday night.

 

The vessel was streaming north up the mainland side of the Minch and approaching Cape Wrath when the emergency occurred.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Drifting ship in Minch towed out of danger    

8 December 2014

The four crew were facing the prospect of abandoning ship in wild sea conditions.

 

The Stornoway coastguard helicopter rushed to the emergency and stood-by to airlift the seamen off if required.

 

Both of the Norholm’s anchors were dropped in a desperate attempt to slow down the drift towards rocks.

 

But they failed to hold and the 32-metre boat continued towards the shore.

Stornoway coastguards dispatched the Lochinver lifeboat to help hold the vessel away from the shoreline.

 

The lifeboat succeeded in towing her back out to sea and around Cape Wrath.

 

Thurso lifeboat took over the tow until coastguard tug MV Herakles arrived from Orkney on Monday morning.