Yacht and LPG tanker in collision
Wooden 45 foot yacht has brush with GAS MONARCH

At three minutes to ten yesterday evening, Yarmouth Coastguard received a mayday call from the yacht Whispa reporting that they had been in collision with a commercial vessel 7 miles south east of Lowestoft.

The wooden built 45 foot yacht with 2 people on board made the mayday call to the coastguard after being in collision with the 4,000 ton gas carrier Gas Monarch in Fog. The Gas Monarch was carrying a cargo of 2,500 tonnes of propane.

The weather at the time of the incident was reported as North West force 2/3 with 0 visibility in fog.

Yarmouth Coastguard requested the launch of the Lowestoft RNLI lifeboat to go to the aid of the yacht and the crew. The lifeboat and yacht were met on arrival at Lowestoft by the Lowestoft Coastguard rescue team.

The Gas Monarch stood by the yacht Whispa until the arrival of the lifeboat. The lifeboat was then able to take the yacht under tow back to Lowestoft. No one was injured in the incident, and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch have been informed of the incident.

Wayne Brunning, Watch Manager, Yarmouth Coastguard said:

The yacht was carrying full life saving apparatus and immediately called for assistance after the collision. Thankfully no one has been injured in this incident.