Lifeboats to the rescue as ferry runs aground off Skye

Volunteer crew of Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig RNLI were called into action on Tuesday October 2 after the Glenelg to Skye turntable ferry ran aground in the Kylerhea narrows during a rapidly dropping tide.

Kyle lifeboat ‘Spirit of Fred Olsen’ was launched at 4.30pm and made best speed towards the Kylerhea narrows where the Glenachulish had ran aground on the pier at Kylerhea. The crew found the ferry had ran aground as the vehicles were being offloaded, leaving one vehicle stranded on the deck.

Kyle lifeboat and two passing working vessels, the ‘Beinn Fhada’ and ‘Annie E’, attached a tow to the ferry and tried to free her before the tide dropped too far, however, the attempt was unsuccessful.

Mallaig lifeboat arrived on scene at 5.15pm but as the tide had dropped substantially, it was decided it was safer to leave the ferry aground on the pier until the tide began to flood again.

Both lifeboats stayed on scene to oversee and monitor the situation until the tide was high enough to attempt to float the ferry free approximately five hours later. At 9.20pm, the tide had risen enough and the lifeboats got the ferry free of the pier.

Kyle lifeboat departed the scene at 9.45pm and was refuelled and made ready for service by 10.10pm.

A Kyle lifeboat spokesman said: ‘The Kylerhea narrows is a fast flowing stretch of water which has fierce currents running through it at eight knots. Even the most experienced skipper can fall foul of these changing currents, and the crew on board the Glenachulish were well prepared, extremely professional and did the right thing in calling for assistance when they ran aground.’