Volunteer crew of Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig RNLI were called into action on Tuesday October 2 after the Glenelg to Skye turntable ferry ran aground in the Kylerhea narrows during a rapidly dropping tide.
Kyle lifeboat ‘Spirit of Fred Olsen’ was launched at 4.30pm and made best speed towards the Kylerhea narrows where the Glenachulish had ran aground on the pier at Kylerhea. The crew found the ferry had ran aground as the vehicles were being off oaded, leaving one vehicle stranded on the deck.
Kyle lifeboat and two passing working vessels, the ‘BeinnFhada’ and ‘Annie E’, attached a tow to the ferry and tried to free her before the tide dropped too far, however, the attempt was unsuccessful. Mallaig lifeboat arrived on scene at 5.15pm but as the tide had dropped substantially, it was decided it was safer to leave the ferry aground on the pier until the tide began to flood again.