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Portaferry RNLI responds to Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacon alert

Lifeboats News Release

The Portaferry RNLI pagers sounded on Sunday afternoon (23 June) after Belfast Coastguard received an Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacon (EPIRB) alert close to Portavogie.

RNLI/Lissa McCully

Portaferry lifeboat waits for the Strangford Lough ferry service to depart before being recovered back to the station.
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The lifeboat launched at 1.05pm, conditions were good with a force 2 light southerly air and slight sea state.

Once close to the scene and with no sign of a vessel, helm Chris Adair with crew members Ros Watret, Molly Crowe and Scott Blackwood began a search of the area.

The crew were made aware soon after that Portaferry Coastguard had located the vessel safe and well in Portavogie Harbour. Both the lifeboat and Coastguard helicopter which had also been tasked, were stood down.

Helm Chris Adair said: 'Yesterday's call out had all the characteristics of a vessel's crew in serious danger, this time thankfully that wasn't the case.

'An EPIRB is a great piece of kit for any vessel at sea. This one malfunctioned and was taken away by the Coastguard to be disarmed, but we would always recommend having one onboard. While this turned out to be a false alarm, we would always much rather launch and find all is well than not launch at all.

'We would also ask all skippers who carry an EPIRB to take this incident as a reminder to check your registration details are up to date and that everyone onboard know what to do in an emergency. Always take weather and tide times into account before venturing out, always wear a lifejacket or suitable flotation device for your activity and always carry a means of communication. Should you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.'

Ends

RNLI/Lissa McCully

Portaferry RNLI volunteer crew arrive back to the station. (from left) Molly Crowe, Scott Blackwood, Ros Watret and helm Chris Adair.
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Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

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