Wellboat nearly blown on rocks after engine failure
A wellboat chartered to Marine Harvest Scotland was escorted to safety after it lost power and was nearly blown on to rocks in 40-knot winds.
The Inter Caledonia put out a distress call when it suffered an electrical failure to both engines around 15 metres from rocks in the Sound of Luing just before 1am yesterday, losing the ability to stabilise itself in the gale.
Oban lifeboat, a search and rescue helicopter and Oban Coastguard Team were sent to the scene , and vessels in the area were asked to help, coastguards said.
A nearby wellboat, the Ronja Challenger, also under contract to Marine Harvest, was able to come alongside the stricken vessel and helped start up a generator to restore some power.
Crew safe and well
Oban lifeboat then escorted the 69.8-metre Inter Caledonia to safety in Craobh Haven. The eight crew of the vessel were said to be safe and well.
The Inter Caledonia, owned and crewed by Norwegian firm Intership, has the capacity to carry up to 300 tonnes of live fish at any one time. She uses reverse osmosis technology to turn seawater into fresh water at a capacity of 200m3/hour, and can completely fill her wells every ten hours, allowing fish to be bathed in fresh water, ideal for treating them against sea lice and AGD.
The boat was unveiled by Marine Harvest at Corpach in April, 2016.
The Ronja Challanger, owned by Sølvtrans, arrived in Scotland in May the same year and is one a five-year contract with Marine Harvest.
