Fishing boat being led to shelter after windows smashed in storm

Stromness lifeboat is now escorting a damaged fishing vessel to shelter, after the boat had wheelhouse windows smashed in heavy seas.

The lifeboat crew were paged just before 6am this morning to go to aid the 33 metre long O Genita which had suffered wave damage to the bridge windows, wiping out steering and electronics.

The crew of the O Genita, a UK flagged Spanish owned vessel, with 16 crew on board, issued a mayday call when it was around 25 miles north-west of Westray.

With very strong south-east winds and an 11 metre swell from the west, the lifeboat dodged breaking seas in Hoy Sound and headed offshore to the north-west.

The Shetland based Coastguard helicopter was also scrambled to go to the boat.

The fishing vessel made temporary repairs to the bridge and restored steering and some electronics, with the lifeboat crew advising them to seek shelter off the coast of Westray.

The lifeboat met the boat off the north coast of Papa Westray, and was this morning escorting her to shelter through rough seas and strong winds.

Westray Coastguard Rescue Team have also been alerted.