SHETLAND'S THIRD VESSEL RUNS AGROUND IN LESS THAN 36 HOURS

Shetland Coastguard were informed at 3:30 p.m. on 14 June 2001 by the master of the Shetland Island Council inter-island ferry 'Filla' that the vessel had ran aground at Hoostack, 6 miles north east of Lerwick.

Shetland Coastguard requested the launch of the RNLI lifeboat from Lerwick and scrambled the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 'Oscar Charlie' to the scene. The vessel re-floated at 4:00 p.m. and was escorted by the lifeboat to Lerwick.

'Oscar Charlie' then overflew the scene of this mornings grounding of the 26 metre fishing vessel 'Lomur' which ran hard aground outside Scalloway on the west side of Shetland with three crew on board. This vessel was successfully towed off at 3:45 p.m. and was taken under tow to Scalloway. It has been confirmed that no pollution occurred during this grounding.

Both vessels will be inspected for damage tomorrow.