Coastguard warns on sea equipment

Many lives are saved by the volunteer crew members

The Coastguard is warning people not to take a boat out unless they have navigational equipment onboard.

Six men in a speedboat had to be rescued after becoming lost off the County Down coast on Sunday evening.

The crew, all from NI, had sailed from Portpatrick in Scotland and were on their way home when they got into difficulties near the Copeland Islands.

The Coastguard had difficulty locating the vessel because the crew was unable to give their precise position.

There was no navigation or communication equipment onboard and the crew used their mobiles phones to alert the Coastguard.

No injuries

The RNLI lifeboat took 45 minutes to find them because of the uncertainty about the location of the vessel.

The crew were then escorted into Donaghadee Harbour. None of them were injured.

Judith McNeice, of the Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, said: "Fortunately, their mobile telephone had reception and we were able to request them to fire one of the three white flares they did have aboard.

"A member of the public reported the flare and the lifeboat was then able to locate the speedboat five miles off Copeland Islands."

"Whatever type of journey you are planning on water, it is essential to be prepared and have the correct navigational and safety equipment aboard."

She said that if anyone was in doubt about the correct procedure, they should contact their local Coastguard for advice.