One of Dundee’s two pilot boats caught fire in an early-morning river drama that “could have been a disaster”.
The Taybird was guiding a tanker out to the North Sea this morning when smoke and flames started to come from its engine.
The drama happened near to East Lady’s Buoy opposite Carnoustie and the two-man crew radioed for help about 4.50am.
Broughty Ferry’s offshore and inshore lifeboats were both despatched and the tanker, the 118 metre Swedish vessel Pandion, halted her voyage to go on standby.
The lifeboat crews arrived to find the fire had was out but smoke was still billowing from the stricken vessel.
The pilot boat’s two crew transferred to the offshore lifeboat, Elizabeth of Glamis, and one of the lifeboat crew climbed on board the pilot vessel which the lifeboat towed back to Dundee port.
Three fire engines were waiting on the quayside but were not needed.
David Martin, Broughty Ferry lifeboat operations manager, hailed “the dedication, commitment and bravery of the volunteer RNLI crew”, adding that the incident “could have been a disaster”.
A spokesman from the Port of Dundee said: “There were no injuries to the crew and the Taybird will now undergo a full investigation before resuming service again.”
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