Sinking cruiser towed to shore by Kinghorn lifeboat

Kinghorn lifeboat was called into action on Sunday morning after reports of a vessel sinking in Inchkeith Harbour.

The nine-metre motorcruiser with four adults on board was on a trip to Inchkeith Island from Pettycur when it fouled its propellors on creel pots in the harbour. The boat then anchored and on a falling tide hit bottom, causing the rudder to breach the hull.

Forth Coastguard broadcast a request for assistance and another inflatable boat in the area responded, standing by the casualty until the lifeboat arrived six minutes after launch.

Helmsman Neil Chalmers said, “The weather on scene was poor, with a force five to six westerly wind and one to two metre waves. The casualty was fortunate to be sheltered by the harbour wall. However, on the incoming tide they were likely to be blown ashore.

“We decided the best course of action was to tow the vessel back to Fife. We deployed our salvage pump on to the vessel and began the tow back to Kinghorn beach.

“Due to the leak beneath the water line we had to beach the casualty vessel in the shelter of Kinghorn Bay, where the boat’s owner would be able to effect repairs.”