Late night Lifeboat Launched Proved to Be Hoax on Hayling Island

The Hayling Island lifeboat was launched following a faint Mayday call from the vessel on Sunday evening The vessel was reporting that he had a Fire on board which was now out and was now under tow of a small RIB called JC in a position 2.5 miles SE of East Head. Communications with the vessel was very difficult. The Atlantic 85 Lifeboat was launched and proceeded to search the approaches to Chichester Harbour, regularly call the vessel on Channel 16 with no response. The Lifeboat helm took the Lifeboat alongside some vessels to ask if they had seen any vessels under tow or heard any of the Mayday call. The UK Coastguard requested that the D- Class be launched and search from the boathouse to the East Head anchorage checking any vessels in the area. Both lifeboats searched and regularly call the vessel and with no response and a good Radar picture, was nothing found the search was called off. It is believed that this was a Hoax Call.

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