A vessel in distress was successfully rescued with the support of an RAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft.
The aircraft and crew had been conducting routine training in the Irish Sea when they overheard a broken distress call on their radios.
Recognising the urgency of the situation, they coordinated with the coastguard to support the rescue effort, using the aircraft's capabilities to liaise with the vessel, which was rapidly taking on water.
Troubled waters
201 Squadron, based at RAF Lossiemouth, had been on station in the Irish Sea when they intercepted a broken, unreadable "Pan-Pan", which signals that a vessel or its crew needs assistance. However, the situation is not immediately life-threatening.
The pertinent information made out was "I am taking on water".
Upon hearing those words, the crew reconfigured for search and rescue, establishing communication with Belfast Coastguard to offer their support.
Due to the faltering transmissions and their distance from the vessel-in-distress, the coastguard welcomed support from the maritime patrol aircraft to establish a reliable line of communication.
Some five nautical miles from the coastline, the crew identified the vessel and orbited above, directing other civilian vessels in the area to support.
Vessels Angee and Ruby Dawn answered the call, arriving in time to assist.
The Poseidon's communication capabilities allow crews to track, coordinate, and share targeting data across vast oceanic theatres.
In this instance, they were able to speak to the vessel below and relay situation reports to the incoming coastguard.
Dispatched from Port Patrick, they met with the vessel in distress, assessed those on board to ensure they required no medical treatment, and subsequently boarded the vessel to help slow the ingress of water.
The Poseidon from 201 Squadron – callsign Guernsey 01 – remained on station to ensure all communications were relayed until the vessel was towed to shore.
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