A lifeboat crew had to battle a force nine gale in order to manage successfully rescuing the trawler Ocean Spirit after the vessel had started taking on water.
On Saturday afternoon Stornoway RNLI were appointed to the location of the boat which was roughly ten miles south east of the town.
The CalMac ferry Isle of Lewis watched the lifeboat fight four-metre waves in order to reach the trawler. The ferry stood by during the rescue operation after it had responded to the boat's distress call.
The three crew members of the trawler managed to pump out the water by themselves and the vessel was then able to return to Stornoway under its own power at 8.30pm.
A Stornoway RNLI spokeswoman commented:
“A Stornoway lifeboat was appointed today to provide assistance to a local trawler that was experiencing severe difficulties and was taking on water at about ten miles south east of the harbor.
“The crew members of the trawler were able to cut the fishing gear away and then use the boat’s own pumps in order to handle the water ingress.”
“The fishing trawler managed to arrive safely at Stornoway harbour at 8.30pm under its own power.”