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Seeking shelter on the north side of Copinsay, from a winter gale, the Aberdeen trawler Navena, struck a reef in the early hours of December 6th. 1973.
The crew were lifted to safety by a British Airways helicopter.
Picture added on 25 January 2007
Hi Russell Really enoying seeing your photo's. I remember seeing the helicopter, from a field at Diamonds, Deerness, going back and fro to Copinsay rescuing the crew of the Navena. Very exciting for a 5 year old!
Added by Linsey Drever on 28 January 2007
The Deerness LSA Team stood by at Kirkwall Airport for two hours in case they were required on Copinsay to lift the crew off by Breeches Bouy in the event they were not needed and the Helecopter which was originally called to lift the LSA team to Copinsay took the crew off the Nevena. Colin Wylie Ex member Deerness LSA.
Added by Colin B.Wylie on 28 January 2007
I was a Customs Officer at that time and boarded the 'Navena' a few days after she went ashore along with the late Mr Jim Shearer of John G Shearer & Sons who were agents for the vessel's owners. The purpose of our boarding was to recover any bonded goods i.e. spirits, tobacco and cigarettes. We went out in an open boat from Deerness and boarding the vessel was quite tricky as a swell was running alongside. As we rather expected, the bonded locker was empty except for a few boxes of chocolates!. It was quite an eerie experience as the ship was in darkness and all that could be heard was the sound of the sea and occasional sounds of the vessel 'grinding' on the rocks.
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Added by Rob Thomson on 27 July 2007
Deerness
