Hebrides  News

Contact newsdesk on:  info@hebridesnews.co.uk

Classified adverts   I   Jobs                               

 Local Services     

St Kilda passengers evacuated from boat     12/6/14

Passengers on a boat trip from St Kilda were evacuated from their high speed rigid inflatable craft (rib) after it was in apparent danger of sinking on Wednesday evening.

The Integrity started taking on water while she was heading back to Uig in Skye, after visiting the island on a day trip.

The emergency occurred during the 85-mile voyage.

The 11-metre-long boat can carry about ten passengers in her enclosed cabin. They were taken onboard the Orca, a St Kilda daytrip boat operated by Kilda Cruises of Harris.

The passengers were landed in Leverburgh and the Hirta, another Kilda Cruises vessel, took then to Skye.

The RNLI Leverburgh lifeboat sped to the scene after the alarm was raised before 7pm. She towed the stricken RIB to safety and was due to arrive in Leverburgh around 1am, Thursday.