A small fishing boat had to be rescued after running aground at Noss Head.
The boat, which had two crew on-board, issued a distress call at about 9am.
The Wick lifeboat and a coastguard ground team were dispatched and the fishing boat was towed free.
It was taken under tow to Wick for repairs.
A spokesman for the coastguard said nobody was believed to have been injured.