Hoax callledto lifeboat launch

Police are investigating after a “malicious” and “well calculated” hoax call saw a volunteer lifeboat out at sea searching for a stricken fishing boat for almost three hours.

Invergordon RNLI lifeboat launched to reports of a Pan Pan distress call received by the coastguard from a fishing vessel which had lost power.

A volunteer crew of seven launched the allweather Trent class lifeboat just before 10am on Tuesday. They spotted a fishing vessel in the vicinity around Chanonry Point. However it was swiftly confirmed it was not the casualty vessel in question.

Several searches were undertaken but it was eventually established there was no vessel in distress.

“Wewereout fortwoanda halfhoursfor nothing”

Later the reported vessel was located in Avoch Harbour by local coastguard teams, who said that it had not moved for several days.

Lifeboat crew member Michael MacDonald said: “We were out for about two and a half hours for nothing. To be out for that length of time for nothing is a serious situation to be in. If it was a fishing boat in distress without power it could be a danger to life. That is what we are here for, to save lives at sea. It’s quite a malicious call that was well calculated.

“The RNLI relies on donations and fundraising from volunteers to run the service 24/7. It’s taken with great consideration to launch such resourceful assets..”

A police spokesman said: “The incident has been reported to police by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Hoax calls to the emergency services are taken extremely seriously and if found to be malicious may result in a person or persons being reported to the procurator fiscal.”