Mallaig Lifeboat
Log for 2017

Information for these pages is sourced from WestWord, local newspaper for West Lochaber

Sunday 8th January
Medivac from Inverie: Requested by Stornoway Coastguard to launch at 04:05hrs to convey paramedics to Inverie (Knoydart). Once on scene the paramedics were taken to the casualty's home and the patient was assessed. It was decided that the casualty should be transferred to the mainland for further treatment. Patient boarded and lifeboat returned to Mallaig. Lifeboat ready for service at 05:15hrs.

Saturday 14th January
Cargo vessel Harvest Caroline: Launched at 01:25hrs by Stornoway Coastguard to the assistance of the cargo vessel Harvest Caroline. Whilst on passage from Kyle of Lochalsh to Mallaig the Harvest Caroline grounded in the Kyle Rhea narrows. Lifeboat arrived on scene at 02:05 to find the cargo vessel aground on a shingly strip of beach between two reefs. The hull had not been breached and no visible sign of damage could be seen. As the tide was now on the turn the tow rope was attached to the casualty and the strain taken and with the engines slow astern Harvest Caroline slipped off the beach without much difficulty. Once the casualty was clear the tow was released and the casualty set off for Mallaig under her own power with the lifeboat in escort at 02:30hrs. Harvest Caroline duly docked at Mallaig at 04:10hrs to await inspection by divers later in the morning.
Lifeboat ready for service at 04:20hrs.

Sunday 15th January
Fishing Vessel Mareather: Launched by Stornoway Coastguard ast 13:10hrs to the assistance of the trawler Mareather. Whilst engaged in fishing operation to the NW of the Isle of Canna Mareather lost engine power. After several attempts to try and restart the engine to no avail the crew notified the Coastguard at Stornoway of their predicament. As there were no other vessels in area to assist the Coastguard requested the Lifeboat to launch. Arriving on scene at 14:40hrs, in misty, overcast but calm conditions, a tow was quickly established and the vessels headed for Mallaig at a steady 6 knots. As they approached Sleat Point the skipper of the Mareather radioed that he had managed to regain engine power and was prepared to drop the tow and continue for Mallaig under his own power. The tow was dropped and the Lifeboat escorted the Mareather to Mallaig docking at 20:30hrs.
Lifeboat fueled and ready for service at 21:00hrs.

Friday 10th March
Fishing vessel Reliance: Launched by Stornoway Coastguard at 11:05hrs to the assistance of the trawler Reliance BF80. The Reliance had suffered engine failure off the Glenbrittle area of Skye. The crew were unable to restart their engine due to a burst pipe which had sprayed fluid onto vital sensors that rendered the engine inoperable. Arriving on scene at 12:05hrs a tow was quickly established and a course set for Mallaig at a steady 6 knots. Once off the harbour the Reliance was brought alongside the lifeboat before being taken in and berthed at the fish pier at 16:20hrs.
Lifeboat ready for service at 16:30hrs.

Wednesday 19th April
Yacht Moshula: Launched by Stornoway Coastguard at 11:10hrs to the assistance of the yacht Moshula. Whilst sailing overnight Moshula's crew had decided to bring down their sails. They started their engine to turn the boat head to wind but unawares to them one of their sail ropes was trailing in the water and subsequently fouled the propeller. The crew continued under sail until daylight so as to assess their situation. With light winds and little progress being made off Neist Point, Isle of Skye, they requested assistance via a Pan-Pan Message. On scene at 12:40 hrs, the Lifeboat took the Moshula under tow for Loch Harport on the West Coast of Skye. Moshula was safely moored at a pontoon at Carbost Loch Harport at 15:55hrs. Contact details of a local team of divers who would hopefully assist in getting the propeller free of the rope was passed one to the Moshula's crew.
Lifeboat returned to Mallaig, fueled and was ready for service at 17:00hrs

Thursday 20th April
Medivac from Inverie: Launched by Stornoway Coastguard at 16:O5hrs to convey Paramedics to Inverie. A builder had fallen from a roof and suspected that he might have broken his leg. Arrived at Inverie 18:15hrs. Once alongside, the Paramedics were transported to the scene along with one crewman, should assistance be required. After assessment and a thorough examination by Paramedics the casualty found not to have broken his leg but had sustained heavy bruising. After getting the casualty to stand and walk about it was decided by the Medics to leave him on scene at his lodgings in Inverie Once medics and crew boarded, the Lifeboat returned to Mallaig, berthed and was ready for service at 19:25hrs.

Monday 24th April
Medivac from Isle of Eigg: Launched to convey Paramedics to the Isle of Eigg at 12:10hrs by Stornoway Coastguard. A visitor who had been out cycling on the Island had failed to negotiate a corner on a hill and crashed into the embankment sustaining a head injury. Once the Lifeboat reached the pier at Eigg, the Paramedics were taken by locals to the scene where the casualty had fallen. Once prepped and stretchered the casualty, a male, was taken to the pier and brought on~board the lifeboat. The casualty was further prepped before the lifeboat made the passage back to Mallaig. Once back at the pontoon the casualty was disembarked to the Ambulance for transportation to the Belford Hospital in Fort William for further treatment. Lifeboat ready for service at 14:35hrs.

Thursday 27th April
Medivac from Isle of Eigg: Launched at 17:55hrs by Stornoway Coastguard to convey medics to the Isle of Eigg on behalf of Scottish Ambulance Service. Once on scene at 18:32hrs the Lifeboat was met by local Coastguards who had conveyed the casualty to the pier. Once an assessment was carried out by the Medics, the patient was boarded and the Lifeboat returned to Mallaig berthing at the pontoon at 19:45hrs. The patient was transported by Ambulance to Fort William for further assessment and treatment at Belford Hospital. Lifeboat ready for service at 19:50hrs.

Thursday 11th May
Walkers Stranded on Isle Oronsay: Launched at 19:00hrs by Stornoway Coastguard to the assistance of two stranded persons on the island of Oronsay in Loch Bracadale Isle of Skye. The couple had crossed over to the island at low water to do some exploring. On their return to the crossing they found themselves cut off by the tide. The Coastguard was made aware by staff where the couple were lodging in the area. Whilst the Lifeboat was underway to the location Coastguards, assisted by a party of kayakers managed to ferry the couple back to the mainland. With the Lifeboat not required any further, Coastguard requested that the Lifeboat stand down and return to base. Lifeboat fuelled and ready for service at 20:45hrs.

Monday 15th May
Unoccupied dinghy retrieved off Arisaig Launched at 21:1Ohrs by Stornoway Coastguard in response to a 999 call from the Arisaig area. Onlookers from the shore noticed a small dinghy being blown off shore by the wind. Unsure if it was occupied or not the Coastguard requested that the Lifeboat launch and investigate. With good coordinates given by the first informer the 10 foot dinghy was quickly located approximately a mile off Portnadoran campsite. The dinghy was unoccupied but in poor condition. The crew took the craft back to Mallaig onboard the Lifeboat and deposited it on the pier to await collection if an owner was found by local Police. Lifeboat ready for service at 21:50hrs.

Friday 4th August
Launched at 15:50 hrs. at the request of Stornoway Coastguard to Loch Harport, Isle of Skye. The body of a male had been discovered on board a yacht at anchor at the head of Loch Harport. Coastguards requested the Lifeboat to attend in order to transfer Police and Coastguards to the scene. Whilst on passage to the scene the Lifeboat was stood down at 16:50hrs. Local Coastguards had managed to acquire assistance from locals and other yachtsmen to bring the yacht alongside for investigation by local police officers.
Lifeboat berthed and ready for service at 18:00hrs.

Wednesday 9th August
Launched by Stornoway Coastguard to assist Paramedics recover an injured person from a yacht at Arisaig Marina at 19:45hrs. A female had slipped entering the cabin and broken her ankle. Paramedics were ferried out to yacht by the marina's tender but the tender was not suitable to take the casualty ashore to the landing pontoon. Arriving on scene at 20:20hrs the Lifeboat located the yacht and transferred a stretcher on-board along with some crewmen to assist recover the casualty from the cabin then aboard the Lifeboat. The Lifeboat transferred the casualty to the landing pontoon where local Coastguards were awaiting to assist with mooring and helped take the casualty from the Lifeboat to the Ambulance.
Lifeboat departed for Mallaig at 20:33hrs and was fueled and ready for service at 21:30hrs.

Monday 14th August
Launched by Stornoway Coastguard to convey Paramedics to Knoydart at 05:40hrs. A female living in Inverie was in need of medical attention. Once on scene at 05:55 the medics were transported to the casualty location by a member of her family. Once an assessment was carried out the medics it was decided that she should be transferred to hospital. Once the patient and her companion were taken on board, the lifeboat returned to Mallaig berthing at 06:45hrs. Patient transported to Fort William for further treatment in Ambulance.
Lifeboat ready for service at 07:00hrs.

Thursday 21st September
Launched by Stornoway Coastguard to convey Paramedics to Isle of Eigg at 17:40hrs. A resident of the Island had sustained a fractured wrist and was in need of hospital attention. Alongside the jetty at Eigg at 18:20hrs, the Lifeboat was met by local Coastguards and also the Island’s First Responder who conveyed the Medics to the Casualty location on the North side of the Island at Laig. Once attended to the casualty was brought to the Lifeboat at 19:05hrs and boarded for the return passage to Mallaig. Lifeboat docked at pontoon 19:45hrs and the casualty was then transported via road ambulance to Fort William's Belford hospital. Lifeboat ready for service at 20:00hrs.

Friday 6th October
Launched to the Kinloch Hourn area by Stornoway Coastguard at 03:25hrs. A party of five had departed from Kinloch Hourn for Barrisdale, a twenty five minute journey. By 03:00hrs the party had not arrived at their destination and the resident stalker at Barrisdale became concerned and decided to inform the Coastguards.
Just as the lifeboat entered the Loch, Stornoway Coastguard was informed that the party had arrived at Barrisdale safe and well. Apparently they had been stranded on a sand bank in the Loch and had waited for the tide to refloat their craft. Lifeboat stood down and returned to base berthing at 04:40hrs.

Thursday 19th October
Launched to Inverie, Knoydart, by Stornoway Coastguard at 10:05hrs to medivac a pregnant woman. Two paramedics transferred to Inverie to attend the woman who was suffering from severe pelvic pain. Berthing at 10:20hrs at Inverie the medics, along with three crewmembers, were transported to the casualty location at a local bunkhouse. After assessment the casualty was stretchered and brought back to the Lifeboat by landrover. Once the casualty was boarded the Lifeboat returned to Mallaig berthing at the pontoon at 11:40hrs.The casualty was then transferred to Fort William by road ambulance for further treatment.
Lifeboat fueled and ready for service at 12:10hrs.

Tuesday 7 November
Launched by Stornoway Coastguard to convey paramedics to Inverie, Knoydart at 08:45hrs. An elderly resident had taken unwell and was to be transferred to hospital for treatment. Arriving at Inverie at 09:10 the paramedics were transported to the casualty location along with members of crew to assist in transferring the casualty. Once safely secured the casualty was brought to the Lifeboat by Land Rover. The casualty and crew boarded the Lifeboat and returned to Mallaig, berthing at 10:30hrs. Local Coastguard were also in attendance and assisted with taking the casualty to the ambulance.
Lifeboat ready for service at 10:45hrs.

Tuesday 14th November
Launched by Stornoway coastguard to medivac an unwell person from Inverie, Knoydart at 21:15hrs. Arriving at Inverie at 21:30hrs, the Lifeboat was met by the casualty who had been conveyed to the pier by a neighbour. The casualty boarded and the lifeboat returned to Mallaig berthing at 21:50hrs. Once moored the casualty was transferred to a waiting ambulance crew for transfer to Fort William's Belford Hospital.
Lifeboat fueled and ready for service at 22:00hrs.

Friday 17th November
Lifeboat tasked to assist with casualty with lower leg fracture. Assisted paramedic and transferred casualty to landing site where they were airlifted to hospital in Skye.

Tuesday 12th December
Launched by Stornoway Coastguard at 16:05hrs to convey Paramedics to Airor on the Knoydart Peninsula. A young man with a history of poor health was to be admitted to hospital. Normally the patient would have been transported to the pier at Inverie for pick up but, due to the road being badly damaged by a landslide, going straight to Airor was more practical. Once on scene at 16:25 the Y boat was launched and the patient and his mother were collected from Airor pier as there was insufficient height of tide to put the Lifeboat alongside. With everyone aboard the Lifeboat departed the scene at 16:35 and returned to Mallaig berthing at 16:55hrs. The young man and his mother were then transported to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness by ambulance.
Boat fueled and ready for service at 17:30hrs.