News / Astronaut hits rock
THE LOCALLy owned crabber Astronaut with three people on board managed to reach the safety of the Malakoff slip in the early hours of Friday after hitting a rock near the access channel to Scalloway harbour.
The 16 metre Stornoway registered vessel sustained a leak that flooded a forward compartment.
The crew was able to stabilise the situation by pumping water from the vessel’s vivier tank, allowing the vessel to get in to the harbour on her own steam.
Aith lifeboat was launched into service at just before 1am but was stood down before reaching the scene of the incident.
Other vessels in the area were also alerted but were too far away to assist.
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