CalMac crew rescue man from Moroccan waters as ferry makes long way home
Crew on the vessel made the rescue after coming across the man in stormy conditions in Moroccan waters
Crew onboard the new CalMac ferry have been involved in a dramatic rescue off the coast of Morocco as they make the long journey from Turkey to Scotland in stormy conditions.
The vessel was sailing in challenging conditions in Moroccan waters when crew members spotted a man in the water.
Within a matter of minutes, crews deployed the fast rescue craft of the new MV Isle of Islay, to recover him and get him onboard.
The individual was handed over to authorities in Morocco, after being looked after by crew for several days.
Louis de Wolff, CalMac’s Fleet Management Director, said: “CalMac crews are well-trained in acting fast to take part in rescues at sea, often supporting the coastguard in Scottish waters.
“None of us expected MV Isle of Islay to be involved in a rescue so soon after being delivered, but it is testament to the professionalism of our crew that the individual was saved from dangerous sea and weather conditions in just a few minutes.”
The ferry has faced a difficult journey since it left the Yalova yard on January 21 as Storm Leonardo pounded Spain and Portugal, with several ports close.
Across several days last week, windspeeds in the local area were consistently higher than 30 knots and gusting at over 50 knots.
The vessel sheltered off the east coast of Morocco before berthing at Almeria port over the weekend.
The ferry is due to remain there until later this week, when better weather is forecast . Then, it will continue its journey to A Coruña in northern Spain before crossing the Bay of Biscay.
Mr. de Wolff added: “We’re bringing the vessel home in winter, when sea and weather conditions in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic, where we’ll be headed next, are at their most treacherous. This has been compounded by a series of storms hitting the Iberian peninsula over the last two weeks.
“The crew continue to do a first-class job in bringing her closer to Scotland and we will confirm arrival details nearer the time.”
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