Small trawler sinks SHETLAND COASTGUARD received a mayday call at 0248 on Wednesday January 16, from the fishing vessel Brighter Morn saying that she had run aground on The Ord, a headland ten miles south east of Lerwick; she was holed and sinking and her crew of four were taking to their liferaft.

The coastguard called the honorary secretary of Lerwick lifeboat station and within 16 minutes of the mayday the 52ft Arun lifeboat Soldian, under the command of Coxswain/Mechanic Hewitt Clark, slipped her mooring and set course for the casualty.

It was almost low water on a fine night with a light breeze blowing from the north west.

A red flare was seen over The Ord at 0309 and a radar sighting was made five minutes later. At 0317 the lifeboat was alongside the liferaft and by 0320 the four fishermen had been taken on board. The fishing boat had sunk, but the liferaft was recovered and the lifeboat then returned to harbour. The four men had been landed and the lifeboat was back on her moorings and ready for service by 0346.

For this prompt service a letter of appreciation to Coxswain/Mechanic Hewitt Clark and his crew signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, was sent to Magnus Shearer, honorary secretary of Lerwick lifeboat station..