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Motion · S6M-10919 · 23 Oct 2023

Lerwick RNLI Tows Danish Boat and her Three-man Crew to Safety in 18-hour Operation

Lodged by Beatrice Wishart Standard Motion 26 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament commends the crew of the Lerwick Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat for rescuing the 17-metre Danish trawler, Westbank, and her three-man crew; understands that, on 19 October 2023, the RNLI lifeboat was tasked with assisting the Westbank, which had broken down and lost engine power 60 miles east of Shetland, and had started taking on water in stormy conditions; further understands that the RNLI Lerwick lifeboat took several hours to reach the trawler through difficult stormy and treacherous conditions caused by the south-easterly gale of Storm Babet, with the sea conditions described by coxswain Stephen Manson as “brutal”; notes that these weather conditions increased the challenges of the operation, with three attempts needed to get the RNLI lifeboat’s tow line attached to the trawler; further notes and commends the assistance provided to the fishing vessel by an oil support vessel and a coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Norway; praises the courage and determination of the RNLI lifeboat crew, who returned to Lerwick harbour with the trawler under tow after an 18-hour rescue operation; commends coxswain Stephen Manson and the RNLI Lerwick lifeboat crew for their service and dedication to saving lives at sea, and wishes all at the Lerwick RNLI lifeboat station and the crew of the Westbank well.

Supporters (26)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.