Longhope Lifeboat rescues creel boat.

Yesterday morning a 28ft creel boat, the Loyal Friend, with three crew on board came under difficulties off Hoxa Head, South Ronaldsay, after rope or netting was caught around the prop.

The boat was in danger of drifting ashore and had put out a mayday call. The Telstar, a boat fishing about 10 minutes away from the scene, responded to the mayday call and The Guiding Light was standing by.

At 11.28am the pagers went off to alert the lifeboat crew. Seven minutes later the Longhope lifeboat Helen Comrie was steaming out of Longhope bay in response to the call and was on the scene by 11.35am. Crew members then quickly secured a tow rope to the stricken vessel.

With sea conditions slight, no problems were encountered during the tow back to Burray Pier. On reaching the pier the tow was released and the creel boat was able to berth safely.

The lifeboat returned to Longhope and was back at the station by 1.10pm.