A FISHING trawler has been seriously damaged after it struck rocks off Ardnamurchan Point with three crew

A FISHING trawler has been seriously damaged after it struck rocks off Ardnamurchan Point with three crew

on board..

Tobermory RNLI lifeboat was launched at 3.30am to assist the 20-metre trawler Diamond D, which was taking in water on Saturday.

The two crew, thought to be from Tynemouth, were not injured.

However non essential crew were evacuated by lifeboat because of the risk that the vessel might sink.

Two volunteer crew were put aboard the fishing boat and a salvage pump was transferred to deal with the ingress of water

Two more pumps were brought to the scene by lifeboat crew and Tobermory Coastguard.

Having confirmed that the pumps were coping, a line was secured from the lifeboat to the stern of the fishing vessel, which was towed to Tobermory where the lifeboat crew stood by to oversee pumping operations.

Tobermory lifeboat Coxswain Andrew McHaffie said: "The fishing vessel had sustained serious damage to its bow and there was a very real risk that it might sink.

"However, the quick thinking of the crew on board and the rapid response of the lifeboat brought the situation under control and the fishing vessel was recovered safely to Tobermory