Radio receivers in the Isle of Man on the lookout for ships and aircraft in distress set off an emergency search in Northern Ireland last week.

During the incident, signals from a ship’s emergency beacon was picked up by Civil Aviation Authority based here in the Island.

But when a rescue helicopter was scrambled from RAF Kinloss, it soon became apparent this was no ordinary rescue.

In fact, the ship’s beacon reported it had run into trouble on its way to a scrapyard in Belfast.

Jason Roberts reports:

(Text of attached audio)

The distress signal had been activated after the ship was dismantled and pieces of it were on board a truck bound for Queen's Island.

Ofcom investigators were called in to trace the signal as it had been interfering with the CAA's radio system.

A spokesman said the beacons were designed to operate for as long as possible and so this one had to be found and shut down.

Ofcom Northern Ireland says it’s one of half a dozen incidents each year and is reminding owners to dispose of the beacons carefully and responsibly.


(Library picture)