Portree RNLI respond to second shout in a week as vessel becomes entangled
The Portree RNLI lifeboat was called to the coast of the iconic Trotternish peninsula on Wednesday (28 May) to assist a fishing vessel which had become entangled in rope at a fish farm.
The volunteer crew members based at the Isle of Skye lifeboat station, who are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, responded to the pagers when they sounded at 10.18am on Wednesday 28 May 2025.
Trent class lifeboat Stanley Watson Barker launched fifteen minutes later and set a course for the Trotternish peninsula in the North East of the island.
The twelve metres long fishing vessel had requested assistance from HM Coastguard after it became entangled in rope at a fish farm off the coastline at Rigg.
Hamish Corrigall, Portree RNLI lifeboat Coxswain, said:
“When we arrived on scene, our priority was to ensure that the vessel and those onboard were safe and well. Once this had been established, we were then able to assist with freeing the fishing vessel. We assessed the situation before making the decision that undertaking a tow was necessary and the safest way to assist the casualties.
“We carry out regular training exercises for all types of emergency scenario, including vessel entanglement and fouled props, so the crew worked well together to ensure the vessel could be towed to safety.”
This is the second incident this week for Portree RNLI, having been called to assist a casualty with a head injury on a yacht in Portree Bay on 26 May 2025.
The crew provided emergency casualty care before transferring the casualty to the Portree pontoon and into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service.
The RNLI is a charity that has been saving lives at sea for over two hundred years. Our volunteer crew members are on call and ready to respond to calls for help 365 days of the year.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- All photos in this press release are credited to Portree RNLI.
- Portree Lifeboat Station was established in 1991 and operates a Trent class all-weather lifeboat – ‘Stanley Watson Barker’. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/portree-lifeboat-station
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For further information, please contact:
Robert MacInnes, Lifeboat Press Officer at Portree RNLI: 07950 421829 / [email protected]
Natasha Rushby, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland: 07826 900639 / [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland: 07920 365929 / [email protected]
RNLI Press Office: 01202 336789 or [email protected]
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The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
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