OCEAN QUEST FR375

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Ruptured fuel line disabled trawler

The Isle of Barra lifeboat was launched in the early morning of Sep 23, 2015, to aid the "Amity II - PD 177" that had issued a distress call. The Barra lifeboat "Edna Windsor" was alerted by the Coastguard to attend the stricken fishing vessel south east of Castlebay in the Outer Hebrides and launched at 2.20 a.m. with a crew of five volunteers to attend to the prawn trawler which had lost power in the Minch 17 miles SE from Castlebay. The Barra Lifeboat arrived at the scene at 3.20 a.m. and discovered the trawler was sitting well in the water with five crew members on board. The sea state was fine with a small swell. The "Amity II" had suffered a ruptured fuel line. The crew of the trawler had deployed an emergency generator which supported lights and pumps until the lifeboat arrived. The trawler was then towed by the Barra Lifeboat to the safe harbour of Northbay, Barra arriving at 6.45 a.m. to await repair.

Trawlermen-star fighting against fish discarding

Jimmy Buchan, star of television series Trawlermen, docked the "Amity 2" at St. Katharine's dock next to Tower Bridge as part of the protest against discarding fish at seas. The Peterhead-based boat made its way up the River Thames after travelling 450 miles, in the afternoon of June 1, 2011. Buchan is raising money for the charity The Fishermen’s Mission which fights poverty and despair in fishing communities by providing help to their families. The charity is a support system to the 13,000 men and women work in deep sea fishing. At sea, they face death and injury on a daily basis and on land, many face insecurity and debt. Mr. Buchan is promoting his new book Trawlerman about life at sea, which he calls "the tougest job in Britain". He is also showing his support for the Scottish fishing fleet. Buchan’s arrival in London co-insides with a campaign by the celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall who is in Brussels trying to persuade the European Parliament to change the rules on quotas and discards - throwing back fish which is illegal to catch. The "Amity II" remains berthed next to Tower Bridge for four days and during that time his trawler will be open to the public. Reports with photos and video: http://news.stv.tv/scotland/north/253991-skipper-of-trawlermen-fame-takes-fishing-fight-to-london/ http://www.docklands24.co.uk/news/it_s_not_gone_off_course_scottish_trawler_arrives_at_st_katharine_docks_1_909243