MCA: Brand new vessel gets into difficulties in Eddrachilis Bay – Fishupdate.com
MCA: Brand new vessel gets into difficulties in Eddrachilis Bay Published: 03 December, 2007
STORNOWAY Coastguard received a phone call yesterday from a member of Scourie Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) reporting that a 27 foot catamaran fishing vessel was overdue to arrive at Badcall Bay near Stoer Point, with two persons on board.
The vessel, the Celtic Pride, had left Ullapool and was due in before dark, as the brand new fishing vessel was being taken to Badcall to be fitted for operation and had minimal equipment on board.
Further information received stated that one of the persons on board the vessel had been in contact with a relative to say that they were unsure of their exact position, but knew they were in Eddrachilis Bay, on the north west coast of Scotland.
An Urgency Pan Pan broadcast was made, and Stornoway Coastguard tasked the Scourie and Lochinver Coastguard Rescue Teams to the shore, and requested the launch of the Lochinver RNLI Lifeboat and scrambled Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R100 in the search for the vessel.
Contact was made with the vessel by mobile phone and the crew were asked to set off flares to assist the search. Coastguard Helicopter R100 pinpointed their location and guided Lochinver Lifeboat to the casualty.
Stornoway Coastguard Watch Manager Ed Thompson said: Initial information on this incident was very limited. Though a VHF radio was on board, it was believed the aerial had not been fitted. The initial call for assistance was to a relative – not to the Coastguard.
We would strongly urge anyone taking a vessel on a delivery trip like this to ensure they have basic communications and lifesaving equipment, and to inform the Coastguard of their intentions.
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