Coal ship towed to safety 3/11/10
A stricken cargo ship has been rescued in a long-
The MV Red Duchess was pulled into Stornoway harbour at 5pm today by the coastguard tug Anglian Prince after an arduous 20 hour tow in high winds.
The coastal coal carrier was dangerously drifting after she broke down off Rhum on Tuesday lunchtime. .
She had been heading to Lewis with a cargo of 1,500 (one and a half thousand) tonnes of coal from Londonderry when her engine broke down leaving her helpless in a Force Seven gale.
The MV Red Duchess is of British flag and has six crew onboard.
Despite the wind gusting over 50mph, Mallaig lifeboat secured a line onboard and managed to keep her off rocks until the Stornoway Coastguard’s emergency towing vessel arrived at 8pm on Tuesday.
The Anglian Prince -
A coastguard spokesperson said: “Mallaig lifeboat did really well. They held the ship off the coast of Rhum for most of Tuesday.
“They were on the scene just before 12 noon and held her until the Anglian Prince arrived at 8pm.”