Valentina

Eight crew members of the "Nicola" which have been stranded in Invergordon for the past five months have returned home after an unexpected sojourn in Easter Ross. The seven Ukrainians and one Lithuanian were left stranded after the ship suffered mechanical difficulties in the Pentland Firth while transporting coal from Poland to Ireland back in October 2014. They remained on the ship while maintenance work was carried out at the Easter Ross port but were effectively “abandoned” in Invergordon without pay after the owner got into difficulties. The community soon became aware of the crew’s predicament and the men were offered help by the Seafarers’ Centre at the Church of Scotland in the town, which they regularly attended. Rosskeen Church also got involved and the men were invited along to their annual Christmas dinner at the Capstone Centre in Alness for people who would be on their own during the celebrations. Port chaplain Drew Anderson took up the story. They were looked after at the Seafarers’ Centre and the Capstone in Alness invited them over for meals from time to time. They used the internet so they could keep in touch with their families back home.” The local churches also chipped in to help the men send money home to their dependants. The crew has now been repatriated and was on the way home. The port has worked closely with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and International Transport Federation to safeguard the welfare of the crew and the vessel. Report with photo: http://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/News/Standed-Ukrainian-crew-fly-after-five-month-stay-in-Invergordon-06042015.htm

The "Nicola" on Nov 19 has left Scapa Flow under tow to Invergordon, where repairs were to be carried out. After the vessel broke down in the Pentland Firth off Strathy Pt. on Oct 19 and was taken in tow by the Coastguard emergency tug "Herakles" into Scapa Flow, she had remained ever since. Early in the morning of Nov 19, the vessel was towed from Scapa Flow by the Orkney Towage tugs "Harald" and "Einar" with an ETA at Invergordon as of Nov 20.

The "Nicola" has been towed in to Scapa Flow after suffering engine failure five miles off Dounreayin the Pentland Firth on Oct 19, 2014, at 10.25 p.m. The vessel had a crew of eight and broke down just off Strathy Point. The Shetland Coastguard tug "Herakle" was dispatched by the Coastguard and brought into Scapa Flow the following afternoon. The tug returned to Kirkwall. Report with photo: http://www.orcadian.co.uk/2014/10/cargo-vessel-aided-by-coastguard/