Clacton RNLI called to search for activated emergency beacon
On Wednesday 22 May 2024 around 12.55pm in the early afternoon, a call out was requested for the volunteer crew to launch with reports that an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) had been activated.
Our volunteer crew launched their Atlantic 85 B-Class Lifeboat ‘David Porter MPS’ into slight sea conditions and good visibility and made their way to Harwich, although minimal details were available at the time of launch.
An EPIRB or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon is a distress beacon for boaters that when activated alerts a worldwide Search and Rescue (SAR) network designed to send rescuers to your exact location quickly. This signal was picked up by the coast guard and requested that RNLI Clacton-on-Sea launch to investigate.
The crew quickly started a search from Hamford Water entrances to Harwich, continuing into the river Stour until reaching Ramsey bouy with nothing found. The coast guard then requested the team conduct a futher search back to Hamford Water using a reciprocal search pattern but with no results.
The crew were then stood down by the coast guard where the crew returned to the lifeboat station where the lifeboat was recovered, cleaned, refuelled and was ready for service at 3.00pm.
Later that day, it was reported that the EPIRB device had been successfully located at Manningtree Recycling Centre where is it assumed it was being disposed of.
Notes to Editors
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RNLI Clacton is in its 145 year of lifesaving activities for the community.
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The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea
Media contacts
Mark Walsham (RNLI Clacton Lifeboat Press Officer) – [email protected] / 07468511158 or the RNLI press office on 01202 336789 / [email protected].
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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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