DRAMATIC aerial images show a Scots vessel slowly sinking beneath the waves after it hit a “black spot” in the North Sea mid-voyage.
A series of incredible photographs captured the Ocean Maid BA55 capsizing amidst the waves after it ran aground off the shore of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, yesterday morning.
The vessel had not long begun its journey when it ran into trouble, coasting into a “notorious black spot” by Cairnbulg Beacon, which has reportedly claimed countless other ships in previous years.
Fraserburgh Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) rescued the four crew members from the shipwreck at 5:56 am, guiding them into lifeboats as they escaped the keeling ship.
The Ocean Maid now sits just metres away from the Sovereign BF380, which was shipwrecked in 2005 after crashing into Cairnbulg rocks.
Aerial footage of the Ocean Maid shows the empty ship capsizing next to a buoy, giving it an eerie appearance as though falling into an ocean void.
RNLI Fraserburgh Lifeboat took to Facebook to detail the rescue.
They wrote: “Fraserburgh RNLI were requested to launch by HM Coastguard this morning and responded at 5:56am to a fishing boat that had run aground beside Cairnbulg Beacon.
“The boat’s crew of four took to a life raft and were then picked up by the lifeboat who brought them ashore.
“This morning’s lifeboat crew were Relief Coxswain Ethan Harris, Mechanic Declan Sutherland, Jordan Morrice, Stephen Brown, Grant Morrison, Shane Richardson, Stuart Ross, Mark Ritchie, David Sutherland.
“The boat went aground at a notorious black spot which has seen many ships wrecked over the years and just yards from where another boat, the Sovereign, went aground in 2005.”
The post included several gloomy photos of the ship covered in a cloak of mist and fog as it slowly capsized right next to the other ship.
A series of images show a curious flock of birds perched along the Sovereign, watching the doomed ship sink further beneath the waves.
A further photo showed the rescue team smiling at the camera after conducting the brave rescue.
Social media users left comments after being delighted the crew were returned back to land safely.
Fiona Williamson said: “I hope everyone is safe. We know how dangerous the sea can be.”
Jayne Ellis Chapman said: “Not another one at that point. There are dangerous rocks just there. I’m glad everyone is safe.”
Jacqueline Neish said: “Fantastic pictures! I’m glad the crew and rescuers are all safe.”
Jo Lawrence said: “That’s bloody unfortunate, I hope everyone is ok. Those are some cracking pictures, though.”
A spokesperson for RNLI yesterday said: ‘Fraserburgh RNLI were requested to launch by HM Coastguard this morning and responded at 5:56am to a fishing boat that had run aground beside Cairnbulg Beacon.”
