A coordinated rescue operation involving multiple agencies saved all 17 crew members from a fishing vessel that ran aground off the west coast of Hoy in Orkney on 1 October. The Genesis fishing boat struck rocks near the Old Man of Hoy and transmitted a mayday distress call at approximately 06:30, prompting an immediate multi-agency response that successfully evacuated everyone aboard.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency received the initial report shortly after 06:30 when the vessel, carrying 17 people, issued its mayday request for immediate evacuation assistance. The incident triggered a substantial coordinated response involving the RNLI lifeboat from Stromness, coastguard helicopters dispatched from both Sumburgh and Stornoway, the Northlink passenger ferry Hamnavoe and its fast-rescue boat, Kirkwall and St Margaret's Hope Coastguard Rescue Teams, a maritime patrol aircraft from the Royal Air Force, Police Scotland, and the Scottish Ambulance Service.
The helicopter crew from Stornoway conducted the primary evacuation, winching all 17 people to safety and transporting them to Kirkwall. A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson confirmed the successful outcome:
Just after 06:30 on 1 October, HM Coastguard received a report that a fishing vessel with 17 people on board had gone aground at the Old Man of Hoy, Orkney Islands and was in need of immediate assistance. The vessel also issued a Mayday asking for assistance to evacuate the people on board.
How did the rescue unfold?
Witnesses aboard the Hamnavoe ferry observed the dramatic rescue operation as it unfolded near the treacherous rocks. Mark Wrigley, a passenger from Leeds, described watching the rescue from the ferry after an announcement informed passengers that the vessel would assist in the operation. He recounted seeing the fishing boat positioned on the rocks with several vessels in the water nearby, including the RNLI lifeboat, which was subsequently joined by the coastguard helicopter.
Wrigley noted that rescue personnel winched the fishermen into the helicopter in pairs, working in extremely close proximity to the Old Man of Hoy rock formation. He told a local broadcaster:
It was quite a distance but you could quite clearly see a boat on the rocks and there was a couple of boats in the water. The RNLI were there and then they were joined by a coastguard helicopter.He expressed admiration for the rescue teams' professionalism and bravery, stating:
I was absolute in awe of the people who were doing the rescue.
What happens next?
The Genesis fishing boat remains grounded at the scene. The HM Coastguard Emergency Towing Vessel has been dispatched to the location, and the HM Coastguard Counter Pollution team, along with other relevant authorities, have been notified and are monitoring the situation. These teams will assess the vessel's condition, manage any potential environmental risks, and coordinate salvage operations.
This incident reflects ongoing maritime safety challenges in Scottish waters. A fishing boat previously ran aground on Bains beach in Lerwick after taking on water, highlighting the hazards that vessels face in the region's coastal areas. Rescue operations remain a regular occurrence in Scottish waters, with multiple people and animals rescued after being cut off by rising tides in recent months.
Key Facts
- The Genesis fishing boat struck rocks near the Old Man of Hoy on the west coast of Hoy, Orkney, on 1 October at approximately 06:30
- All 17 crew members were successfully evacuated by a Coastguard helicopter from Stornoway and transported to Kirkwall
- The rescue involved the RNLI lifeboat from Stromness, two coastguard helicopters, the Northlink ferry Hamnavoe, Coastguard Rescue Teams, an RAF maritime patrol aircraft, Police Scotland, and the Scottish Ambulance Service
- The vessel remains aground; the HM Coastguard Emergency Towing Vessel and Counter Pollution team have been dispatched to manage salvage and environmental concerns
