Bid to refloat stranded tug boat

The Stornoway Coastguard helicopter was involved in the rescue

An operation will take place to assess whether or not an ocean-going tug boat which sank off Skye can be refloated.

Eight crew were rescued uninjured from the vessel which had been accompanying a foreign submarine undergoing sea trials in the area.

The Vanguard started taking in water just before 1800 BST on Tuesday, half a mile north of the island of Rona.

The 128ft tug was beached on the island shore and the crew rescued using the Portree lifeboat.

The Vanguard had been working for the Ministry of Defence accompanying a Canadian Navy submarine which is undergoing sea trials in the area.

An attempt is being made to remove fuel and oil from the tug before an assessment is carried out to see if it can be re-floated.

The cause of the sinking is as yet unclear, however a number of dangerous submerged rocks lie up to a mile off the northern shore of Rona.

The tug is lying at an angle of 45 degrees. There are no reports of any pollution.