Divers to assess damage to fishing vessel after she runs aground

Divers will be sent down to assess the damage to a fishing boat that ran aground north of Lerwick on Monday night, sparking a rescue operation.

None of the four crew of the Banff-registered Serenity was hurt although the Shetland Coastguard helicopter was called out in case they needed to be airlifted to safety.

The coastguard received a call from the skipper of the Serenity at 10.30pm on Monday when she was six miles north of the harbour.

He said the wooden boat had run aground and was taking on more water than her pumps could cope with. Lerwick lifeboat was sent to assist with an additional pump.

The Serenity, lying very low in the water, was eventually towed into the harbour and taken alongside the breakwater next to the Queen’s Hotel where fire fighters continued to pump out water.

Due to the strong overnight winds she was later moved to Albert Dock. A spokeswoman for the coastguard said the incident did not appear to be weather-related.

Earlier this year another Scottish boat, the Tranquility, ran aground on rocks north of Lerwick.