A tanker that was at the centre of an airlift rescue drama off Inverness earlier this week has entered port as her captain recovers in Raigmore Hospital.
The 2,760 tonne Mersey Fisher docked in Inverness around 2pm after spending the night anchored in the Moray Firth after the boat’s captain was dramatically winched up from the vessel by an RAF Lossiemouth helicopter on Thursday morning.
The 57-year-old man suffered a suspected heart attack and is in a stable condition after receiving treatment on the boat and at Raigmore.
His family, who are based in Canada, have been kept informed of the captain’s condition by the ship’s owners James Fisher Shipping.
Neil Burns, fleet director for the company, said: “He was well cared for on board by the crew while awaiting air support and is now in hospital for further treatment.
“We are in contact with his family in Canada and his condition is being monitored in hospital.”
The ship’s first mate and deck officer guided the boat, which was carrying a cargo of petrol and diesel, into port yesterday afternoon after spending a night anchored in the firth.
The skipper took ill just five miles north east of the Kessock Bridge.
The crew diverted it to a point in the Moray Firth off Fortrose to await support from the emergency services.
However, the aborted approach meant it had to wait for a new slot to enter Inverness port, which was not available until yesterday afternoon.
The crew of the 300ft tanker were praised for their response after the skipper suffered his health scare just after 8am on Thursday morning.
Kessock inshore lifeboat attended the scene shortly after the problems was reported and administered oxygen on board the vessel, understood to be laden with road fuel.
The man was deemed to be not well enough to make his way into the lifeboat so the helicopter was called in from RAF Lossiemouth.