Coastguard rescues broken-down boat

Teams from Sunderland Coastguard and the RNLI were called to a report of a vessel in distress off the coast of Whitburn.

Theincidenthappenedon Thursday,ataround10.10am when Coastguard rescue officers located a pleasure boat from onshore with another boat standing by it.

Rescue teams soon established that the vessel had broken down off the coast of Whitburn and that a partial mayday distressmessagehadbeen transmitted.

Teams from the Sunderland Coastguard alongside the Sunderland RNLI Atlantic lifeboat, launched from Roker, towed the stricken pleasure boat back to safety at Sunderland Marina.

The Coastguard reported that further advice was given totheskipperbeforereminding all boat owners to ensure that vessels are mechanically sound and that all radio equipment is working.

A statement posted on the Sunderland Coastguard Facebook page said: “Sunderland Coastguard Rescue Team and Sunderland RNLI Atlantic lifeboat were called to a report of an unknown vessel in distress off Whitburn.

"Coastguard Rescue Officers located a pleasure boat from onshore with another boat standing by. It was established that the pleasure boat had broken down with the skipper having transmitted a partial mayday distress message. The vessel was towed to Sunderland Marina by the lifeboat where Coastguards offered safety advice.

"All boat owners should ensure that vessels are mechanically sound before setting out to sea and that radio equipment is operating correctly."