A German container ship on route to Dublin has lost power off Cornwall and is drifting towards the Isles of Scilly. St. Mary’s (pictured) and Sennen Lifeboats were called to assist the vessel following a distress call, taken by Falmouth Coastguards at around two o’clock today.
Engineers on board the ‘Heiki’ are working frantically to fix the problems and restart the engines. The ship sent out its distress signal from Cape Cornwall and is being pushed towards the Islands by the Easterly winds. Two tugs have been dispatched to the scene to stand by the vessel in case of further problems. The ‘I. B. Harvey, and the coastguard tug ‘Far Sky’ are due to reach the vessel soon.
Falmouth Coastgaurd asked the Master of the ship if he wished the St. Mary’s lifeboat to remain at the scene, when the reply came through in the negative, St. Mary’s lifeboat were asked to return to their station at 19:05hrs. The crew have made no request for an evacuation and the recalling of the lifeboat would suggest that the situation is under control. It is predicted that, conditions permitting, the ship will drift two miles to the north of Sevenstones reef, avoiding catastrophe.
We will update the situation as we receive more information on the state of the rescue.