The fire, which seemingly had started in the engine room, was reportedly getting out of control and the four men were preparing to abandon to a life raft.

Coastguard rescue helicopter

The Coastguard immediately scrambled the rescue helicopter `Mike Uniform' from Stornoway and a Nimrod 'Rescue 51' on exercise from RAF Kinloss in the area also diverted to the scene. The Stornoway lifeboat was requested to launch and various fishing vessels began making their way to the scene in response to the emergency call. The fisheries protection vessel 'Vigilant' also began making its way to the area.

The crew aboard the Nimrod aircraft spotted the life raft at just before 6.00 p.m. and the Coastguard helicopter was then diverted to that position. All four men were then winched aboard the helicopter and indicated that they did not require medical treatment. They were then flown back to Stornoway.

Deputy District Controller Simon Riley said, "We were greatly assisted in this rescue by the crew of the fishing vessel `Kingfisher' who spotted smoke on the horizon and informed the Coastguard who then requested the Nimrod aircraft divert to that
position.  Fortunately the Nimrod aircraft from RAF Kinloss had been on exercise in the area at the time.  The initial position given to us by the crew was some 50 miles from were they were finally located and which may have been caused by the crew's desperate situation on board the burning vessel.  The crew aboard the Nimrod were able to locate the `target' of the life raft fairly quickly and was able to relay that information to the Coastguard.

" We do not know at this stage the cause of the fire and the incident has been reported to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.  Fortunately there were calm seas today and good visibility, which undoubtedly greatly aided their prompt rescue.