Royal National Lifeboat Institution volunteers from both Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig were paged during Sunday 18th February, to assist a 1200 tonne cargo vessel, called ‘CEG Universe’, which had been disabled with a broken rudder in the Kylerhea narrows.
Kyle lifeboat Spirit of Fred. Olsen launched to help the 65 metre vessel. The lifeboat arrived on scene and put crew members aboard the stricken vessel to assess the situation.
Whilst awaiting for the SD Kyle of Lochalsh from the BUTEC base in Kyle, the vessel’s anchor brake failed and the vessel began to drift backwards. Mallaig and Kyle lifeboats took the cargo vessel under tow and held it against the current until the tug arrived on scene.
The SD Kyle of Lochalsh and the two lifeboats then manoeuvred the cargo vessel through the Narrows and towed it into Kyle Harbour. The lifeboats were then stood down and Kyle lifeboat returned to station to be refueled.
