Mallaig
Lifeboat
Log for 2004
Information for these pages is sourced from WestWord, local newspaper for West Lochaber
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There was only one call out for the Mallaig Lifeboat during January, although Coxswain Bertie McMinn kept the crew busy with training sorties and delivery of the Mallaig Lifeboat to Buckie shipyard where it is undergoing its annual refit. The Henry Alston Hewat is due back in Mallaig mid-May; in the meantime the RNLI Relief Vessel Fraser Flyer, No. 17.17, is on station at Mallaig.
Wednesday 7th January:
Mallaig Lifeboat launched in poor weather at 13.48 following a report from
a member of the public of a canoeist in the water in Knock Bay (Sleat Peninsula).
The Mallaig Lifeboat searched the area for about 30 minutes when word came
through that the canoeist had managed to get ashore and had not been in
any difficulty. Lifeboat returned to station, was refuelled and ready for
service at 16.10.
Sunday 1st February:
Mallaig Lifeboat launched at 1448 to go to the assistance of the 12 metre
launch Frangag, reportedly taking in water, via a broken seacock.
The Frangag, en route from Mallaig to Eigg, was reached by the Lifeboat
at 15.06, just as water ingress to the vessel was stopped. The two crew
members managed to restart one engine and the vessel was escorted back to
Mallaig, through rough seas, by the Lifeboat, arriving back in port at 15.53.
Tuesday 24th February:
the sea state was officially classed as rough (wind NNE force 5-6) when
Mallaig Lifeboat launched at 22.57 to go to the assistance of the Buckie
registered fishing vessel Adele, which was being towed into harbour
by the Campbeltown registered Gleaner. The Adele had suffered
gear box failure 20 miles south of Barra Head and had subsequently been
towed across the Minch by the Gleaner. Because of the wind and sea
conditions at the time, the assistance of the Lifeboat was requested to
help the ships gain safe entry into the port and to manoeuvre alongside
the harbour. This was done with minimum fuss and the Lifeboat was back on
station at 23.57.
Monday 22nd March
Mallaig Lifeboat launched at 02:45 to go to the assistance of the 16.5 metre fishing vesselKristanjo
which was experiencing steering difficulties 4 miles SW of Sleat point.
With good visibility and light winds the lifeboat arrived at the casualty
at 03:57 and escorted her to just outside Mallaig Harbour. With the fishing boat
now tied alongside, the Lifeboat brought the vessel into harbour and alongside the pier.
The Lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service at 04:35.
Saturday 24th April:
Stornoway Coastguard requested the Mallaig Lifeboat to transport the Mallaig
Fire Brigade to the Isle of Rum where there was a house fire. Lifeboat launched
at 17.23 with local police officer and the local fire fighting volunteers
who, on arrival at Rum, extinguished the house fire. The house was extensively
damaged. Lifeboat returned to base, was refuelled and ready for service
at 20.30.
Saturday 8th May:
Mallaig Lifeboat launched at 13.49 to go to the assistance of the BA registered
fishing trawler Aries which had lost its propeller. Fifteen minutes
from the location of the casualty, an emergency report of a vessel on fire
at Bracadale was received, so it was arranged that the FV Golden Isles
tow the Aries to the safety of Elgol and the Lifeboat then proceeded
to Bracadale.
Saturday 8th May:
Lifeboat set off to investigate the reported sighting of a coaster emitting
a lot of smoke and thought to be on fire. On arrival at the search area
(15.22hrs) - assisted by the Coastguard and Helicopter - an extensive search
was carried out but nothing further seen or found. Lifeboat returned to
Station, refuelled and ready for service at 17.45 hours.
Friday 28th May:
The fishing vessel Laur-nic suffering from water ingress to the engine
room was being towed across the Minch by the Barra Lifeboat. Mallaig Lifeboat
was launched at 11.14 to meet up with the casualty NW of Canna and take
over the tow of the trawler to Mallaig Harbour. Tow was duly completed and
vessel placed alongside the quay at Mallaig Harbour at 16.45 hrs.
Wednesday 9th June:
Lifeboat launched at 20.45 at the request of the local police to go to the
assistance of a local youth who had fallen from the underneath of the road
bridge over the River Morar and was now lying on the shoreline. Arriving
at the scene within minutes, the Y-boat was launched and after discussions
with Police Coastguard, Ambulance and Fire Brigade, the 16 year old youth
was taken on board the Y-boat, transported to the opposite shore for medical
attention and subsequently transferred by Ambulance to the Belford Hospital
in Fort William. Lifeboat refuelled ready for service at 22.20 hours.
Saturday 3rd July:
Lifeboat launched at 15.23 at the request of the Stornoway Coastguard,
who reported that the yacht Rhonan Isle, suffering engine failure,
was being towed towards Mallaig by another yacht Jubilee. Mallaig Lifeboat
took over the towing procedure and safely docked the Rhonan Isle at Mallaig
Harbour several minutes after call-out.
The Lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service by 16.20.
Wednesday 7th July:
Good visibility and light NNE winds prevailing
when Mallaig Lifeboat launched at 18.35 to go to the assistance of the fishing vessel Stella Maris.
The Castlebay registered prawn trawler had a fouled propeller (netting) and was inactive. Lifeboat reached the casualty
at 19.17 and the vessel was taken in tow and subsequently safely docked at Mallaig Harbour at 21.59.
Saturday 10th July:
Weather conditions were good when the Coastguard requested the launch of the Lifeboat due
to a missing diver near the Isle of Muck. Once underway the Lifeboat was recalled as the missing diver had resurfaced and was OK.
Friday 16th July:
Mallaig Lifeboat launched at 18.55 when Stornoway Coastguard informed the authorities that the
8 metre yacht Kate was dragging anchor in Loch Scresort (Rum) and was in danger of going ashore.
On passage to Rum, the island Coastguard team reported that the yacht had managed to put out extra anchors
and did not require any further assistance.
Lifeboat returned to Station, was refuelled and ready for service at 20.50.
Saturday 17th July:
It was 20.55 when the Mallaig Lifeboat departed Mallaig Harbour with a Paramedic on board,
destination Inverie, where a young girl was suffering severe abdominal pain. After carrying out the medi-vac
the Lifeboat was back in Mallaig at 22.10 when the patient was transferred to the Ambulance
for onward transmission to the Belford Hospital in Fort William.
Wednesday 21st July:
Flat calm weather conditions prevailed when the Mallaig Lifeboat was launched at 10.02 to escort the 30ft yacht
Martha Kathleen into port. The yacht, with four people on board, was experiencing engine problems
and didn't want to risk sailing in to Mallaig Harbour - a port the Martha Kathleen had not visited previously.
The yacht was escorted in and safely berthed alongside the harbour. Lifeboat refuelled and ready for service at
10.53.
Thursday 22nd July:
Weather air, visibility good, wind SSE 4/5, sea state moderate. Those were the weather conditions prevailing when
HM Coastguard alerted the Mallaig Lifeboat team that the 15metre yacht Wild Free had fouled its propeller
NE of the Island of Rum. Lifeboat launched at 11.07 and proceeded to the stricken vessel and towed it into safety of
Rum Harbour, where it remained at anchor awaiting tidal conditions conducive to clearing the prop.
Lifeboat returned to Station, refuelled and ready for service at 14.40.
Friday 23rd July:
South westerly winds blowing Force 5 proved troublesome to a family of three who sometime earlier had landed near
Sleat Point to picnic. Worsening weather meant that they could not re-launch their 16ft motor-boat (Kay Anne).
As one of the party was a diabetic and there was no more food the Coastguard requested the launch of the Mallaig Lifeboat
at 15.51 to go to the assistance of the stranded family. Arriving at the scene at 16.08 the crew of the Lifeboat launched the
Y-boat, picked up the family from the shore and conveyed them to the safety of the Lifeboat. With the family on board and their
vessel in tow, the Lifeboat set sail for Mallaig, reaching the harbour at 18.54.
Wednesday 28th July:
The yacht Dutch Maid had hit a submerged object north-east of the Island of Rum and although holed and taking in
water the vessel's pumps seemed to be coping. However the Mallaig Lifeboat was launched at 20.25 to escort the 8 metre yacht
to the safety of a mainland port. The Mallaig Lifeboat stood by the Casualty until she berthed at Mallaig at 23.10 pending beach inspection the following day.
Monday 2nd August:
Lifeboat launched at
09.27 at the request of the Stornoway
Coastguard to go to the assistance of a
young boy requiring medical treatment after
a fall from a mountain bike in Knoydart.
With paramedic on board, Mallaig Lifeboat
reached the casualty at 09.41. After initial
on-scene treatment by the paramedic,
Lifeboat returned to Mallaig with the patient
who was subsequently taken to the Belford
Hospital in Fort William by the Ambulance
Service. Lifeboat refuelled and ready for service at 10.30.
Wednesday 4th August:
With northerly winds blowing form 4-5, Mallaig Lifeboat launched at 1300 to go to the
aid of the 7 metre yacht Ruaha-nan-ron, which was experiencing engine problems.
Located one mile west of Sleat Point the yacht was reached by the Lifeboat at 13.16 and
towed to the safety of Mallaig Harbour where it was berthed at 14.39.
Tuesday 17th August:
With concern growing regarding the whereabouts of the fishing vessel Kathryn Jane -
which had not been seen since leaving Mallaig in late July - Stornoway Coastguard
requested a shoreline search at Loch Brittle (the west side of
Skye) after nets and fishing gear had been located on the
seabed close by and which may have come from the missing
vessel.
Arriving at the search area at 13.05 - some 50 minutes after
launch - the Lifeboat crew carried out an extensive shoreline
search from Loch Brittle to Neist Point but no conclusive
evidence was found.
Lifeboat returned to station, refuelled and ready for service at
00.15 on Wednesday 18th August.
Wednesday 8th September:
Mallaig Lifeboat launched at
15.35 (at the request of Stornoway Coastguard)
to go to the assistance of an Inverie resident
injured in an explosion on board his boat.
Lifeboat proceeded to Inverie where, on arrival at
the incident scene (15.50), the casualty was
found to have multiple injuries. After initial
treatment and care from the Lifeboat crew, the
casualty was taken on board the Lifeboat before
transfer to the Coastguard helicopter who
transported the injured person to hospital.
N.B. This was not a fire explosion, but a
pressurised gas bottle (having had its Regulator
top knocked off by a mooring chain) striking the
casualty!
Saturday 11th September:
Gale force winds 7 -
8 westerly winds with nil visibility and a 3 metre
swell were the prevailing weather conditions
when at 23.28 the Mallaig Lifeboat was launched
to go to the assistance of the 10 metre yacht
Mistress - dragging her anchor chain and in
danger of going ashore on to the rocks in Loch Moidart. On leaving the harbour, the Lifeboat personnel were informed by HM Coastguard in
Stornoway that the vessel was indeed hitting the rocks and the person on board was taking to
his dinghy, (there was to be no more radio contact with the casualty.)
On arriving at the mouth of Loch Moidart conditions were very soon zero visibility, strong
winds, driving rain and, with no lights on the shore to take bearings, it was a case of
proceeding with caution, edging past rocks and shallows into the Loch and to the search area
around a small island north of Castle Tioram. On rounding the point of this island a faint light
was seen and in the beam of the searchlight a mast could clearly be seen. Dropping anchor,
the Y-boat was deployed to investigate. The casualty was found in his dinghy with the
forward sponson burst and tied to the mast of his vessel which was now under water. Casualty
was taken on board the Lifeboat and treated for mild hypothermia - it transpired he had
entered the water at 23.30 - at 0400 hrs. Great care was required to exit the Loch and a failure
to the compass binnacle only added to the trying conditions being experienced by the
Coxswain and his crew. The Lifeboat arrived back in Mallaig at 05.40 where the casualty was
taken to the Fishermen's Mission by Coastguard personnel. Lifeboat refuelled, ready for
service at 05.55.
Friday 17th September:
Launch occurred at 15.10 to go to the assistance of the salmon
well-boat Ronja Christopher which was lying off Mallaig unable to manoeuvre owing to a
mechanical problem. Lifeboat escorted vessel into a safe berth at the Harbour and was back
on station by 15.55.
Sunday 26th September:
Mallaig Lifeboat crew were alerted by Stornoway Coastguard that a canoe had capsized at
Lochailort and that two men were in the water. Launch was cancelled ten minutes later
(10.55) as canoeists were able to reach shore and safety.
The Lifeboat was launched at 15.35 to go to the assistance of a mountain rescue team stranded at Loch Coruisk after rescuing an injured climber. With the Coastguard unable to fly due to weather conditions the Lifeboat proceeded to the pickup point, reaching the climbers at 16.30. picking up the party they transported them to Armadale before arriving back at station, refuelled and ready for service by 18.15.
Monday 27th September:
The weather was good when
Mallaig Lifeboat was launched at 12.08 to go to the assistance
of a female walker who had suffered a suspected broken ankle
whilst walking in the hills around Loch Coruisk in Skye. The
Lifeboat conveyed a 4 man Coastguard Rescue Team to the
scene and they, with 2 Lifeboat personnel, went ashore to tend
to the casualty. After initial first aid at the scene the casualty
was stretchered off the mountain down to the shoreline, to the
Lifeboat and back to Mallaig and the waiting ambulance.
Lifeboat refuelled and ready for service at 16.10.
Friday 22nd October:
Lifeboat launched at 14.11, with ambulance
personnel on board, to go to the assistance of a
female resident of Knoydart who had become ill
Arriving at the casualty at 14.32, first aid was
administered by ambulance personnel and patient
transported to Mallaig where an ambulance was
waiting to take her to hospital.
Lifeboat refuelled, ready for service at 15.50
hours.
Monday 25th October
A broken down salt-water pump was causing
problems for the fishing vessel Our Pride which
was experiencing difficulties in its approach to
Mallaig Harbour.
Lifeboat launched at 11.03 and escorted vessel
safely into harbour by noon.
Tuesday 16th November
Mallaig Lifeboat launched at 21.55 to go to the
aid of an Inverie resident who was
suffering from chest pains.
After initial treatment by the Doctor and
Ambulance personnel, the patient - who had
been conveyed to Mallaig by the Lifeboat - was
transferred to Fort William's Belford Hospital
by the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Lifeboat refuelled and ready for service at 23.00
hours.
Thursday 16th December:
Mallaig Lifeboat Henry Alston Hewat launched
at 09.27 at the request of the Stornoway
Coastguard who had received a report of a
small cabin cruiser adrift off Isle Oronsay, Skye.
Although there was no-one on board and no
lives were in immediate danger, the vessel was
considered a navigational hazard, hence the
lifeboat launch in rough seas and wind force 7.
On passage to the recovery area, it was reported
that the vessel had been recovered by another
boat in the area so Lifeboat returned to station,
refuelled ready for service at 11 a.m.
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