A general cargo vessel broke down half a mile offshore in Sinclair’s Bay, Scotland, in the morning hours of November 22 and was towed to safety later that day, Wick RNLI informed.
Shetland Coast Guard tasked Wick Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to go to the aid of the 4,258 dwt ship Jomi.
Jomi’s crew reported that the vessel was dragging its anchor in the easterly swell and unable to get its engine started.
A relief boat stationed at Wick then made best speed to the casualty.
“As the vessel was in danger of further slipping towards shore it was deemed best to call in our own boat which was going to sea on trials following an electronics refit, to attend as well in the case of the vessel having to be towed to deeper and safer water,” Wick RNLI explained.
As the lifeboats stood by, the tug Einar from Orkney Harbours was also tasked to the incident to tow the vessel to a safe haven.
The Einar arrived on scene around 01:15 P.M. local time and, with assistance from the lifeboat, a tow was rigged and the cargo vessel’s anchors retrieved.
The 1991-built vessel was then towed to Scapa Flow for repairs.
At the time of the incident, Jomi, owned by Norway’s Misje Rederi, was en route to Reykjavik, Iceland, with a cargo of wood.
Image Courtesy: Wick Lifeboat