Salvage tug to rescue drifting ship

Salvage tug on route to rescue drifting ship 13/4/14

An ocean-going tug is on her way to rescue a stricken ship in the southern Minch.

The Norwegian-owned MV Wilson Gdynia lost steering in a force eight gale on Saturday morning.

The bad weather and rough seas caused concerns as the disabled ship was at risk of being pushed onshore by the strong westerly winds.

Barra lifeboat stood-by the 88-metre long, Barbados-flagged bulkcarrier in case her eight or nine crew had to be taken off.

Tobermory RNLI took over the watch in the evening and was stood down at dawn after a 17 hour, 130 mile shout.

Barra RNLI lifeboat was scheduled to return to the scene but the tug made good time and the stricken ship was out of immediate danger.

The MV Wilson Gdynia used her bow thruster to steer towards open water at the excruciatingly slow speed of one knot or so to prevent her drifting onshore.

On Sunday night, the cargo ship, which is carrying a load of wood chips from Fort William, was about 30 miles south west off Barra.

The drifting vessel is using her bow thruster to keep her head into the wind - a technique used to prevent her going broadside-on, which would cause her to roll heavily from side-to-side.

The tug MV Balder Viking was steaming down the Minch on Sunday. The Viking, chartered out of Aberdeen, intends to take the disabled ship under tow to Belfast on Monday morning.

Stornoway Coastguard was alerted to the emergency via a VHF radio call at 10.30am on Saturday.