Shouts 2008
16Feb - Angling Vessel Storm Drift,
broken down at Dunnet Hd. Thurso Lifeboat launched by
Aberdeen C/G at 1140hrs and proceeded to casualty in
Moderate sea conditions and towed back to Scrabster
arriving at 1300hrs.
23Feb - Fishing Vessel Aubretia broken
down in Pentland Firth. Lifeboat launched at 2120hrs in
rough sea conditions and a SW6 windforce. Vessel towed
back to Scrabster arriving safely at 0230hrs using
1000litres of diesel.
22Mar - Red Flares reported to Aberdeen
C/G west of Holburn Hd. Lifeboat launched at 0130hrs in
very rough sea conditions, squally visibility and NE8
windforce.Area from Dunnet Bay to Sandside Harbour
searched for 3.5 hrs but nothing found.This is known as
a launch with Good Intent (from the general public).
19Apr - Motor Vessel Flinderdjk, a
general gargo ship enroute to Belfast reported to
Aberdeen C/G they had a very sick man requiring
medivac`d to hospital and Thurso Lifeboat was tasked to
meet the ship at 1500hrs off Dunnet Hd to transfer the
casualty to awaiting ambulance at Scrabster.We launched
at 1445hrs in perfect sea conditions for a ship to ship
transfer with an Easterly wind force 2-3.The transfer
went without any problems and the crewman was assessed
by the first aiders on the lifeboat but did not require
any treatment for his abdominal pain. He gave us all a
laugh when he told us he was the COOK. We arrived at
Scrabster at 1530hrs and he was taken to hospital with
suspected gallstones.
03June - 0832hrs Launch request from
Aberdeen C/G. Thurso Lifeboat slipped her mooring at
0845hrs with 6 crew aboard enroute to the Isle of Hoan
off Sangobeg Durness where a 4m White RIB with
one person on board had experienced engine trouble and
had to be quickly beached on the island. The casualty`s
only means of communication was a mobile phone which had
poor reception on the island. Our passage to the
casualty was 37nm and our ETA was calculated to be
1025hrs. At 0930hrs we were approaching Strathy Pt
when a message from Aberdeen C/G informed us a local
fishing boat had assisted the casualty so we were stood
down, and told to return to Scrabster arriving back at
1010hrs.Boat refuelled with 600 ltrs of diesel(71p/ltr =
£426) and ready for service at 1055hrs.
10June - 1522hrs Launch request from
Aberdeen C/G.Lifeboat crewed and slipped her mooring at
1530 and was tasked to assist a fishing vessel on
passage to Orkney who had lost steering at a position
29nm WNW of Holborn Hd.
The vessel `s name was "Obsession" a 34ft Cygnus crabber
on passage from Milford in Wales to Orkney with her new
owners. Thurso lifeboat headed WNW from Holborn Hd
facing a westerly wind of force 7-8 and rough sea
conditions with a 4-5 m swell. Making 18 knots at best,
our ETA for casualty was calculated at 1700hrs but after
a very spine crunching passage we arrived on scene at
1650hrs where we passed out tow line to Obsession and
commenced the tow back to Scrabster at 1705hrs arriving
at 2015hrs .Lifeboat refuelled and ready for service at
2130hrs.
Obsession under Tow
This picture courtesy of Karen Munro
21June - Launch request from Aberdeen C/G
at 1528hrs for two surfers caught by tide and drifting
out to sea from Melvich Bay.Thurso Lifeboat launched at
1535 hrs with 5 crew aboard in moderate sea
conditions and SE 3-4 wind.
ETA for Melvich Bay was 1615hrs at a range of 14nm and
speed of 21kts. 1600hrs message from Aberdeen C/G that
both surfers had managed to get themselves safely to
shore so we were stood down and returned to station at
1635hrs.
18Aug - Tasked to Faraid Hd (Durness) to
assist a 24ft boat called Sea Quest who had gone
out to sea but with the fresh SE wind was having
difficulty returning to a safe haven.Thurso Lifeboat
proceeded at full speed to his position which was 35nm
west of Thurso with an ETA of 1.5 hours frrom launch.
Lifeboat was stood down 3 nm from the casualty who was
assisted into Rispond harbour by a local coast guard.
05Sept - Launch request from Aberdeen C/G
at 1510hrs to assist FV Girl Erica who had fouled
her propeller and was at anchor 50 yards from shore at a
position 21nm west of Thurso.The Lifeboat was launched
with 5 crew aboard at 1520hrs and proceeded at full
speed to the casualty. There was a fresh NE wind and
ebbtide which was not good for the casualty as it was
driving the Girl Erica onshore but it was beneficial to
the Lifeboat helping increase our speed to over 26kts.
40 minutes into the passage a local boat called
"Sophie Ellen" assisted Girl Erica by pulling her
farther offshore to about a cable(200yds).Lifeboat
arrived on scene 10 minutes later and attached a
towrope.Girl Erica and her 2 crew were towed to
Scrabster as it was low water at Sandside (where the
vessel originated) arriving at 1830hrs.
Thurso Lifeboat was refuelled with 1000ltrs of fuel and
made ready for service just after 1900hrs.
 
Picture courtesy of Karen Munro
Picture courtesy of Willie Mackay. Master Hamnavo
19Sept - 1904hrs Launch request from
Aberdeen C/Guard, Thurso Lifeboat crewed and launched at
1915hrs to a suicide attempt in Castlehill Harbour (castletown)
but was stood down before leaving the harbour as the
police had recovered the person from the water unharmed.
18Oct- launched to surfer in difficulties
in Melvich bay but was stood down 30 minutes enroute.
19Oct- On exercise in Thurso/Dunnet area
when diverted to unidentified floating object in Thurso
Bay which turned out to be a tree from the river which
was towed back to Scrabster and put ashore for disposal.
22Oct-Launched to the Rock Well Thurso to
assist two surfers in difficulty in heavy swell and
flood tide.They were stranded and exhausted in the water
off the west side of Thurso beach unable to get
out off the 3 to 4 meter waves which caught them
unawares. Thurso Lifeboat was on scene in less than 5
minutes and the y-boat launched with James Brims and
Scott Youngson on board. The lads did a great job
getting in on the swell and picking the surfers up one
at a time and taking them to the lifeboat.They were
assessed medically and landed at scrabster harbour where
they were met by the local coastguard and police who
activated the rescue from a 999 call.
11Dec - 1030hrs Launched to creelboat
Osprey WK14 ,fouled propellor and total power loss 40 nm
west of station. Weather moderate and good time made
arriving on scene at 1220hrs connecting Tow and passing
hand held radio to casualty for comm`s. Proceeded the
long Tow back to scrabster breaking the tow twice
enroute at the casualty end I might add, arriving back
at the Scrabster at 1800 hrs a total round trip of 80nm
using 1325litres of fuel. TLB ready for service at
1830hrs.
At present Standing By.............. |
