Ferry crew race to help after sailors' catamaran capsizes

A ferry’s rescue crew helped to rescue two sailors after their catamaran capsized off the coast of Aberdeenshire.

The crew of the NorthLink Ferry MV Hrossey launched their ‘fast response craft’ to save the men near Cruden Bay on Saturday afternoon.

They were assisted by Peterhead RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew following the incident, as well as a small fishing vessel from Cruden Bay.

The lifeboat crew launched their smaller, daughter craft, ‘Y boat’ and proceeded to the fishing vessel where both casualties were waiting.

Coxswain David Weir who helmed the smaller Y-boat said: “The casualties had done their absolute best to right their vessel but were getting tired and needed assistance.

“They had also made the good decision to dress appropriately for the sea conditions. Despite the weather being very warm at the weekend, the sea around Scotland remains cold all year so the kit they had on kept them safe and alive.”

Once the casualties were confirmed as safe, the capsized catamaran was towed into Cruden Bay while being escorted by the lifeboat ‘The Misses Robertson of Kintail’.

Captain Stuart McCallum, Serco’s Marine Manager at NorthLink Ferries, said: “We are extremely proud of the master and crew of MV Hrossey, particularly our colleagues who manned the fast rescue craft, for safely supporting the rescue mission of the capsized catamaran on Saturday alongside the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and RNLI.”