Vertom-Eva Vessel Reviews and Specifications

On November 19, 2021, the cargo vessel 'Wilson Alicante' encountered a perilous situation while navigating from Neskaupstadur to Kyleakin. Initially, the ship ran aground beneath the iconic Skye Bridge before floating free, only to find itself drifting perilously broadside toward the bridge and nearby rocky outcrops in the shipping channel. At 3:24 p.m., the UK Coastguard issued a ‘Pan Pan’ distress call, prompting the local RNLI lifeboat and the Portree lifeboat to respond. Attempts by the Coastguard to establish communication with the vessel over VHF radio went unanswered. However, the response team was swift; the Kyle lifeboat reached the scene within just two minutes of deployment and discovered the vessel adrift under the bridge, in imminent danger of running aground again. After several unsuccessful attempts to communicate with the ship's crew, hope was rekindled when 'Wilson Alicante' managed to regain propulsion and navigate toward the Kyleakin Fish Plant pier. The Kyle lifeboat provided escort assistance, ensuring the cargo ship's safe arrival at the pier. Once the vessel was secure, the Portree lifeboat, still en route, was stood down. To ensure continued safety, the UK Coastguard requested the Kyle lifeboat to remain on-site until local Coastguard units arrived, which occurred shortly after 6:30 p.m. For a detailed report with images, visit the RNLI website.