Fishing vessel rescued in Gale Force 11 conditions (with footage)

A fishing vessel that had lost power in Gale Force 11 seas has been brought to shore safely thanks to a joint rescue effort from two Coastguard search and rescue helicopters and the Aith RNLI.
The crabbing vessel with eight people on board was in 10m high seas when it was hit by a freak wave which smashed the wheelhouse window causing them to lose power and navigational equipment 40nm west of Sumburgh, Scotland.
UK Coastguard received a distress call from the vessel just after 8pm on Tuesday 14 March.  A Mayday relay Broadcast was issued immediately and a nearby offshore tug boat diverted its course to reach the vessel. 
UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopters based at Stornoway and Sumburgh flew in over 50kn winds to reach the vessel, keeping a watchful eye over the vessel until the Aith RNLI All-Weather Lifeboat arrived on scene to lead them into Scalloway.
Captain Andrew Smith based at Stornoway said that the sea conditions were some of the worst he has ever seen.  He said:  ‘The conditions were horrendous.  When we arrived the vessel was floundering in the 10m seas.  Thankfully, the crew were all safe and they were able to restore engine power.  Unfortunately their navigational equipment was rendered useless due to flooding from the wave crashing into the wheelhouse.  The Aith RNLI did an amazing job to reach the vessel in these sea conditions and the fishing vessel was able to follow the Lifeboat into safer waters and eventually into Scalloway later that morning.  The Sumburgh Coastguard helicopter also did a great job to provide us with assistance in such adverse sea conditions.’



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