Sent in by John Kinsman, operations manager at Coastwatch St Monans, east Fife.
Fisherman found dead
Tributes have been paid to a fisherman whose body was found on an uninhabited island off the west of Scotland.
Eoghaan MacLachlan, from the isle of Luing was discovered after his boat ran aground on Belnahua. Coastguards crews were called to reports that a 58 year old had fallen from his vessel.
The Clyde fisherman association said that it had lost a much appreciated friend above all else and a valued colleague.
It said in a tribute, “The wider community have lost an exceptionally kind, humorous, skilled and hard working person. He was an excellent seafarer with a passion for people and music. An integral part of his community.”
Police Scotland is treating the death as unexplained but does not believe it’s suspicious.
Missing woman
Police divers and lifeboat volunteers joined the search in the river Tay for a missing Perth woman.The 62 year old was last in the early hours of Monday December 18th when she is believed to have left the Dundee road area and walked to Moncrieffe Island.
Her disappearance sparked a massive search on the river Tay on the Monday, with a police helicopter, water rescue unit and multiple emergency services on the scene. The following day, Tuesday, police, mountain rescue team, coastguards, and lifeboat crews returned to the area to carry out further searches. Police Scotland said inquires in the woman’s disappearance was ongoing.
One witness said that search and rescue teams gathered at South Inch car park at around 10am on the Tuesday before setting off for Moncrieffe Island saying that what looks like rescue teams in canoes, while others were on foot and some wading through the water.
After a search lasting two days and no trace of the missing woman, the search was called off.
Sheep on beach
Coastwatch St Monans were notified that a sheep was seen on the beach at Earlsferry near Elie by a member of the public.
Coastwatch St Monans notified the report to Aberdeen coastguards who then sent the St Monans team to the scene to investigate.
The team made their way to the location and began a search along the beach and shoreline. After searching they discovered the sheep, on seaweed close to shoreline. Sadly the sheep had passed away. The team put up warning signs and reported it to the local council who arranged the uplift of the animal.
Coastwatch St Monans team who attended were operations manager John Kinsman, deputy manager Anne Kinsman, John McLean and Karen Dobson.
Harbour project
More than £1.5 million of repairs to St Andrews harbour in Fife have begun, two months after storm Babet wreaked havoc.
The medieval port suffered significant damage during an unusually high tide in the wake of the storm on October 16th.
And the iconic pier cliff path and car park were closed amid fears of further erosion. Contractors are now at website constructing rock armour to protect the road and cliff. The land end of the pier will also be protected.
Tonnes of stones have been transported to the site in preparation for the works. However while the repairs have started they are unlikely to be finished in early new year and further weeks of work will be needed after the festive season. St Andrews harbour trust said a JCB digger would gain access to the beach via a specially created route over the rock armour. The work is being carried out by private contractor Realm Ltd under the supervision of Fife council coastal team.
The harbour trust launched a £1.5 million fundraiser in November to carry out emergency repairs. And so far more than £6,500 has been donated. The trust is seeking long term funding from the Scottish government and other agencies.
Storm Babet caused serious erosion and damage to the walls and walkways of the main pier. It also destroyed one of the slipways.
St Andrews crab and lobster fishermen were unable to work for several weeks as the harbour was clogged with weeds and debris.
Coastwatch
Coastwatch St Monans were alerted once again to erosion of the Fife coastal path between St Monans and Elie. The collapse happened just west of St Monans village near Newark castle. The collapse was reported by a couple of walkers to coastguards who sent St Monans Coastwatch team to investigate. The team discovered a section of the path had fallen on the beach. The path is now closed to all walkers until further notice.
Finally…
Coastwatch St Monans team operations manager John Kinsman was on radio Kerry last month December to discuss their role and about recent rescues. The presenter told listeners that Coastwatch St Monans was similar to volunteer teams in The Kerry area, and explained that volunteersunits provide a vital service in local areas.