Fishing vessel towed to safety The fishing vessel Orkney Reiver of Kirkwall fouled her propeller with a fishing net and was drifting eight miles south west of Fitful Head, Shetland on 10 November.

There being no other vessels in the casualty's area to go to her assistance, Shetland coastguard requested Lerwick's Arun class lifeboat Soldian tow the vessel to port for divers to clear the propeller and repeated a Storm Force wind weather forecast issued previously.

Soldian arrived at 1030 and rigged the line to tow Orkney Reiver, with six people aboard, to the nearest port of Scalloway. Portwasreachedatl410, despite the tow parting in Force 8 winds for a period of 10 minutes.

The lifeboat's return passage fromScalloway at 1500 around Fitful Head and Sumburgh Head was rough, with winds gusting Force 11, high seas and poor visibility.

Thankfully, the crew arrived home in good shape at 1820..