Wick and Thurso RNLI lifeboats called to aid stricken Faroese vessel

Thurso lifeboat ‘The Taylors’ with the ‘Deeside’ safely back at Scrabster.

THURSO lifeboat The Taylors was called out for the second time in 10 hours this morning (Thursday) after a Faroese fishing vessel, with 14 people on board, suffered engine failure east of Duncansby Head.

The 38-meter Vardborg broke down in the jurisdiction of Wick lifeboat but had requested to Aberdeen coastguard it wanted to be towed back to Scrabster harbour.

The crew of the Wick lifeboat, Edward Duke of Windsor, was paged shortly after 4am to go to the aid of the stricken vessel, with the Thurso RNLI crew later contacted to take over the tow.

The Wick lifeboat crew established a tow by 4.55am and the Thurso lifeboat arrived shortly after.

However, at 5.10am the Vardborg managed to regain power and reported its intentions to carry on to its fishing grounds.

The Wick lifeboat released the tow and was stood down at 5.20am, while The Taylors stayed on the scene to escort the Vardborg west through the Pentland Firth past Stroma when it was then released from duty at 5.45am.

Meanwhile, Thurso lifeboat crew was in action yesterday (Wednesday) evening after the Buckie-registered fishing vessel, Deeside, broke down nine miles west-north-west of Holborn Head.

The RNLI lifeboat launched in good weather conditions at 6.45pm, arriving on scene about 30 minutes later when it took the Deeside, with her five-man crew, under tow back to Scrabster where they arrived safely at 8.50pm.

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