Danish fishing vessel aground KIRKWALL COASTGUARD fired maroons to alert the lifeboat at 2045 on Friday, March 5, having seen a fishing vessel, Marianne Bodker of Denmark, ashore on Coubister Skerries.

The 70' Clyde lifeboat Grace Pater son Ritchie set out at 2055 and found Marianne Bodker aground, poundingand rolling heavily. The wind was southerly, blowing at gale force, the sea was rough and it was low water. The lifeboat had great difficulty in approaching the casualty owing to the shallow water and reefs and did in fact touch bottom, slightly damaging one of her propellers.

Eventually a towline was made fast and at 2310, after several attempts, Grace Paterson Ritchie succeeded in refloating Marianne Bodker and escorted her into Kirkwall, where the fishing vessel was examined by a diver for possible damage. The lifeboat returned to her moorings at 0045 on March 6.

A donation was made to the Institution by the fishing vessel's insurance brokers..