Lifeboat and coastguard helicopter called to report of distress signal at sea

EMERGENCY services were called out earlier today (Tuesday) after reports of an automated distress signal in the seas to the north east of Shetland.

However despite the Lerwick Lifeboat and the Sumburgh-based coastguard helicopter searching, nothing was found.

The Lerwick lifeboat was launched at 1.50pm this afternoon at the request of HM Coastguard, reaching east of Skerries at around 3.15pm.

As the exact location of the distress signal was unclear, the lifeboat was tasked to search specific locations and to conduct a wider search pattern.

At the most northerly point, the search area took the lifeboat to around 20 nautical miles east of the island of Unst.

HM Coastguard contacted vessels known to be in the area, and the coastguard rescue helicopter also conducted a detailed search from the air.

After a thorough search, nothing was found and the lifeboat was stood down just after 6pm. The crew returned to Lerwick Harbour for around 8pm to refuel the lifeboat, ready for service again.

Sea conditions were said to be good, with light northerly winds and an air temperature of eight to nine degrees.

John Connor, RNLI coxswain afloat mechanic, who is currently providing coxswain cover for Lerwick lifeboat said: “Our volunteer crew are always on call for any request to go to the aid of a vessel or persons in distress.

“Circumstances could have been very different but we didn’t find anything on this search, which we consider to be a good outcome.”