Scallop vessel drifting toward Skye Bridge triggers RNLI Kyle lifeboat shout as Storm Barra makes its mark
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
LOCHALSH lifesavers had a tricky task on their hands in rough conditions when a 28ft scallop dive boat broke free of its moorings in strong winds.
It was the second time in as many weeks that Kyle lifeboat was called out to a vessel adrift under the Skye Bridge.
Kyle lifeboat crew were paged at 2:14pm yesterday after the UK Coastguard received reports of the unmanned vessel being aground in Kyleakin, after breaking free of its mooring in storm Barra.
Kyle lifeboat launched nine minutes later, by which time the boat had blown free of the shore and had drifted under the Skye bridge, ending up wedged between the pier at the Mowi fish food plant and a cargo vessel which was tied up alongside.
Due to the position of the casualty vessel, the lifeboat crew had a difficult task trying to establish a tow which had to be attached to the stern of the vessel in the strong winds and rough sea conditions.
The dive boat was then towed out backwards into open water, where the crew could then rearrange the tow and take it safely back into the railway pier in Kyle.
The vessel was safely tied up to the pier at 3:10pm and the lifeboat was stood down and returned to the station.
A Kyle RNLI spokesperson said: "When we arrived on scene the dive boat was stuck between a cargo vessel and the pier at the Mowi plant making the extraction difficult.
"We had to tow the vessel out backwards which made it tricky to control in the stormy conditions, however once we got into open water we could adjust the lines and tow it forwards as we headed back to Kyle."
It was the 21st call-out of the year for the volunteer crew in Kyle.
Lifeboat on scene within two minutes as 88ft vessel drifts towards Skye Bridge
