Mr P Cannop
12-Sep-06, 19:33
A Party of sea anglers had to be taken ashore by lifeboat after a fire started on their charter boat off the far north coast yesterday.
The group of 12 set out into the Pentland Firth from Scrabster and had just started fishing when smoke was seen belching from the engine room of the 50ft Karen.
Skipper Dave Benson issued lifejackets to the passengers who were marshalled towards the bow of the vessel. He then sent a mayday to Aberdeen Coastguard as the boat drifted seaward about a mile-and-a-half off Brough.
Thurso lifeboat was scrambled, as were Duncansby Head and Scrabster Coastguard teams. The lifeboat was on the scene within half an hour and the passengers were transferred on to her.
A line was then attached to the 50ft-long Karen which was towed back to Scrabster.
Mr Benson, 41, said: "By the time the lifeboat arrived, we had the opportunity to investigate and though there was no sign of a fire then, it was felt best to put the passengers on to the lifeboat.
"It was a situation where we took all precautionary measures we could as we do not take any chances when we're dealing with members of the public."
The lifeboat arrived at Scrabster just before 2pm when the anglers were safely landed.
A team of Thurso firefighters were waiting at the quayside to go aboard the Karen and check over the engine room.
A spokeswoman for Aberdeen Coastguard said: "Thurso lifeboat went alongside the Karen and the fire had been extinguished by people on board. There were 14 people on board. Thurso lifeboat took 12 people off the vessel and the captain and his mate stayed on board while she was towed back to harbour where they were met by Scrabster Coastguard rescue team and an appliance from Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service."
Engineers are due to inspect the vessel today to gauge the extent of the damage.
The group of 12 set out into the Pentland Firth from Scrabster and had just started fishing when smoke was seen belching from the engine room of the 50ft Karen.
Skipper Dave Benson issued lifejackets to the passengers who were marshalled towards the bow of the vessel. He then sent a mayday to Aberdeen Coastguard as the boat drifted seaward about a mile-and-a-half off Brough.
Thurso lifeboat was scrambled, as were Duncansby Head and Scrabster Coastguard teams. The lifeboat was on the scene within half an hour and the passengers were transferred on to her.
A line was then attached to the 50ft-long Karen which was towed back to Scrabster.
Mr Benson, 41, said: "By the time the lifeboat arrived, we had the opportunity to investigate and though there was no sign of a fire then, it was felt best to put the passengers on to the lifeboat.
"It was a situation where we took all precautionary measures we could as we do not take any chances when we're dealing with members of the public."
The lifeboat arrived at Scrabster just before 2pm when the anglers were safely landed.
A team of Thurso firefighters were waiting at the quayside to go aboard the Karen and check over the engine room.
A spokeswoman for Aberdeen Coastguard said: "Thurso lifeboat went alongside the Karen and the fire had been extinguished by people on board. There were 14 people on board. Thurso lifeboat took 12 people off the vessel and the captain and his mate stayed on board while she was towed back to harbour where they were met by Scrabster Coastguard rescue team and an appliance from Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service."
Engineers are due to inspect the vessel today to gauge the extent of the damage.