Vanguard declared a Total Loss

Vanguard was operating under contract to the British Underwater Testing and Evaluation Centre (BUTEC) at Kyle of Lochalsh, from where submarine weapons trials are supported. The tug started to sink after grounding and was finally beached on the island of Rona. All eight-persons on board were taken off by the Portree lifeboat but the tug could not be saved.

Vanguard was a single screw vessel of 38.7m in length and 306 gross tons, originally built in 1965 as the Rathgarth for the tanker handling at Milford Haven. In subsequent years she was redeployed to various fleets associated with Cory Towage Ltd and was eventually acquired by Carmet in 1991. The 1300bhp tug was a familiar sight around the coasts of Britain and Ireland and it is understood that she had been supporting naval trials off the north of Scotland for sometime. Carmet Tugs also manage and operate a small fleet of shiphandling tugs on behalf of the Manchester Ship Canal.

A wreck removal contract has been awarded to Newhaven based salvors Titan Maritime and plans are in place to lift the tug from its resting place on the rocky shore with the aid of a large floating crane.