Looe RNLI volunteer crew launch to investigate Man Overboard Alert

At 6pm yesterday, Thursday 18 September 2025, Looe RNLI volunteer crew launch pagers sounded after our duty launch authority, Brian, received a tasking request from Falmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), who had become aware of an AIS Search and Rescue Transponder (SART) Man Overboard (MOB) alert. Given the urgency of the tasking our volunteer crew launched the charity’s Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II within 8 minutes of the launch request. Making best speed to the reported position of the MOB alert, our crew arrived on scene within 20 minutes. With good visibility of around 5 miles, and a slight sea state, our crew did not spot anything and there were no other boats in sight. Reporting back to Falmouth MRCC, our volunteer helm David, along with crew members Nathaniel, Victoria and Clive, decided to start an expanding square search. After searching for another 20 minutes, they were now approx. 2.5 miles out from the initial position, and still not finding anything, our helm requested air assistance from the HM Coastguard helicopter. As HMCG Rescue 924 was enroute to the scene our crew were asked by Falmouth MRCC to conduct a parallel leg search. Rescue 924 arrived on scene just as the Atlantic 85 had completed the first leg of the 6 leg search pattern. Shortly afterwards, at 7.16pm, both search and rescue assets were stood down by Falmouth MRCC, it transpired that a Germen warship had been exercising in the area earlier in the day, and the AIS SART beacon on a lifejacket had malfunctioned. The Atlantic 85 returned to station where it was recovered by head launcher, Simon and tractor driver, Mitch assisted by shore crew Paul, Mat, Alex, Adam, Goron and Will.

Commenting after the Atlantic 85 was made ready for her next service, volunteer helm Dave Jackman and Lifeboat Operations Manager Clive Palfrey both praised fellow crew members Nathaniel and Victoria for the professional way they managed the search patterns. AIS SART beacons operate in a different way to Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) and with the good visibility and precise search patterns Clive and David were both confident that if there was a casualty in the water, they would have been spotted and rescued very quickly.

ENDS

Notes to editors

An AIS Search and Rescue Transponder (SART) alerts nearby AIS-equipped vessels to a specific location, like a person overboard or a life raft, while a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) sends a direct distress signal via satellite to the Coastguard and global search and rescue services.

Photos:

· Stock image Night time recovery of Looe RNLI Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

Information:

· Re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992, Looe RNLI operate two inshore lifeboats
An Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and a D Class Ollie Naismith II

· For further information on Looe RNLI Lifeboats please visit our website https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/looe-lifeboat-station

· Looe RNLI Facebook page www.facebook.com/LooeRNLI

Media contacts

For more information please telephone

Ian Foster, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Looe Lifeboat Station, on 07902 753228 or [email protected] or [email protected]

or Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, on 07866 668847 or [email protected]

or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.