Two rescue boats run aground on the same rocks

Eight people had to be rescued after two boats became trapped on rocks in the North Sea. The first boat ran into problems at the Torry Battery, near to Girdleness Lighthouse at the entrance of Aberdeen harbour, at around 6pm on Thursday after engine failure caused the vessel to drift onto rocks.

A fast rescue craft which was carrying out trials in the area went to assist the stricken boat, a daughter craft of the Grampian Talisker, but also ended up wedged between the rocks due to difficult sea conditions. Both boats are owned and operated by North Star Shipping.



Emergency services including police, ambulance and fire teams attended the scene. Two coastguard units also assisted as the sailors were removed from the icy water. A spokeswoman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said that none of the eight required hospital treatment.

A spokesman for North Star said they would have to wait for a higher tide before attempting to move the boats from the rocks. He added: "Engine failures unfortunately occur but the important thing here is that our crew members involved are all uninjured having handled the situation calmly, effectively and professionally."