Stornoway Coastguard has coordinated the rescue of 14 crew members on board the UK Registered fishing vessel Spinning Dale which has run aground on rocks at Village Bay, St Kilda.
Stornoway Coastguard was contacted by the vessel at 5.30am reporting that they were aground and unable to evacuate to a life raft due to the severe weather conditions of Force 9 winds.
Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 100 from Stornoway and Rescue Helicopter 137 Lossiemouth were on scene and Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 100 has taken all the crew off the vessel. Stornoway RNLI lifeboat is also heading to the scene. Rescue operations have been hampered by the very high winds gusting up to 50 knots above the cliffs.
Stornoway Coastguard has been able to continue communications with the Spinning Dale through a nearby Spanish crewed fishing vessel Celtic Sea, which has stood by in Village Bay and assisted throughout the operation.
There are no reported injuries. Spinning Dale is 169 Gross Tonnage trawler in Fleetwood with 14 Spanish crew.
