Coastguard helicopter recovers six after boat drill incident
At quarter to twelve this morning, the master of the tanker, British Cormorant were carrying out a drill with their rescue boat when one of the lines snapped injuring three crewmen on the ship and causing the rescue boat to capsize which deposited the six crewmen into the water.
The Coastguard rescue helicopter from Lee on Solent was scrambled and recovered six crewmen from the water and landed them at Bembridge on the Isle of Wight. The helicopter then recovered a crewman to Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth with suspected spinal injuries from the ship.
The helicopter has undertaken a further visit to the ship and evacuated a further crewman to hospital.
The Bembridge RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch to recover the ships rescue boat, which has now been recovered for inspection.
The British Cormorant is at anchor at the Nab anchorage waiting to berth to discharge its cargo.
Lucy Tanner, Watch Manager, Solent Coastguard said:
The Coastguard rescue helicopter provided a swift recovery to the six crewmen in the water.
Fortunately all were wearing lifejackets which ensured that they all remained afloat and visible to the aircraft crew.
Inspectors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Marine accident Investigation Branch are now onboard the vessel to conduct an investigation into what happened.
Source: MCA