TWO MEN IN A BOAT FOUND SAFE AND WELL AT LOCH BUIE

Two men reported missing in their six metre open vessel have been found after a large scale search coordinated by Clyde Coastguard.

The alarm was raised at 10.10 am by Tobermory Harbour, after the wife of one of the men aboard the vessel had visited the harbour and voiced concerns that she had not heard from her husband the previous evening as planned. The Harbour contacted Clyde Coastguard who began trying to trace the men and their vessel.

The two men had left Craobh Haven Marina at 10
.00 am the previous day. Their transit points were vague but it was thought that they may be hoping to reach Fingal’s Cave, Island of Staffa.

Broadcasts were put
out by Clyde Coastguard and coastguard rescue teams from Oban, Ross of Mull, Crinan, Lochaline, Craignure and Colonsay carried out searches at ports, marinas and local anchorages. A local radio station, Oban FM, was also asked to mention the incident in the hope of securing some further information.

Irene Reid, Watch Officer, Clyde
Coastguard, said:

“At 11.
20 am we upgraded the incident to a ‘Pan Pan’ Urgency situation and a Navtex broadcast was put out, but the search area was still vast.  Bremen Coastguard in Germany were able to request information on the mobile phone usage of one of the missing men and gave a general area where the phone was last polled at 2.30 pm that day, within 8.5 nautical miles' radius of Loch Melfort. Although still 289 square miles, this provided us with a more manageable search area and the incident was immediately updated to a Mayday Distress situation. Three RNLI lifeboats from Oban, Islay and Tobermory were requested to launch and the coastguard rescue helicopter was scrambled from Stornoway.

At 4.
15 pm the two men were found by Craignure coastguard rescue officers at Loch Buie on the south east coast of Mull. They had sought shelter there in the poor weather conditions and had been unable to call their shore contact. Thankfully both men were safe and well and the incident had a happy conclusion.

The Coastguard would like to remind boat users always to keep in touch and ensure someone has an idea of your passage plan and how to get in touch with you. Always have a reliable method of communications on board preferably a Digital Selective Calling radio.

And always remember, if you get into trouble contact the Coastguard on Channel 16
or dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”



-Ends -

For further information please contact:
Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office, on:
(023) 8032 9401


http://www.mcga.gov.uk/

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