New Yell boat starts taking on water

A Cullivoe-based creel and sea-angling boat with five people on board was at the centre of an emergency early this morning when she started taking on water.

The crew of the 10-metre Halcyon (LK 467) called Shetland Coastguard at 8.30am as they thought the situation was very serious. The coastguard scrambled the rescue helicopter and Lerwick lifeboat was launched and made its way to the vessel, which was fishing near Muckle Flugga, Unst. An emergency broadcast was sent out to alert vessels in the vicinity.

The Faroese ferry Norröna, which goes between Faroe and Denmark, was first on the scene and stood by. The fisheries protection vessel Jura also headed towards the Halcyon. Meanwhile the Halcyon‘s crew managed to pump the water out of the boat and anchored to await the arrival of assistance.

The Cullivoe-based motor vessel Oberon came out to assist and towed the Halcyon back to Cullivoe, escorted by the lifeboat. They were alongside at noon.

The Halcyon only came to Shetland two months ago for her owners, Yell Sound ferry skippers Richard Gray and Ian Nicholson. She is a glassfibre Cygnus-design craft.