BEACON LOST FROM YACHT CAUSES INTERNATIONAL RESCUE

A beacon lost overboard from a 42 ft yacht today created a search involving coastguards from the UK, Netherlands and Germany.

At just before 8am Falmouth Coastguard received an alert from an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) that was registered to a German owned 42-foot yacht.

Because of the position of the beacon Yarmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre took over control of the search for the yacht. They sent the RAF Rescue helicopter from Wattisham to the scene along with the RNLI Lifeboat based at Aldeburgh, meanwhile the German authorities tried to contact the owner.

At just before 12.30pm the yacht was spotted by the RAF Rescue helicopter from Wattisham. The crew confirmed that the EPIRB had been lost overboard sometime earlier.

Yarmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Watch Manager Peter Wheeler said:
"Distress radio beacons like EPIRBs are tracking transmitters which are designed to alert rescue authorities when a vessel needs assistance. It’s therefore really important that if you lose your distress beacon you tell the authorities immediately to prevent a full-scale search and operation being launched."

-Ends-

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