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25/02/2004
Emergency as SOS frequency blocked by ship playing Radio 4
A lifeboat had to be launched to intercept a cargo ship in the North Sea when it accidentally jammed the emergency radio frequency this morning.
Coastguards in Great Yarmouth were unable to use the frequency needed for ships to make distress, urgency and safety calls when the button on the cargo vessel's radio handset became accidentally jammed in the 'on' position without the crew realising. The ship then transmitted Radio 4, which was playing on another set, and the sound of the crews' voice for almost five hours.
The Coastguard contacted the BBC who broadcast a message on Radio 4 asking vessels to check their broadcasting equipment.
As the broadcasting continued Coastguards then requested the Wells RNLI Lifeboat to launch and, following the line of the radio signals from the vessel, were eventually able to reach the vessel `Victress', which was found about 10 miles off the north Norfolk coast.
The problem started shortly after 5am and a lifeboat found the vessel and alerted the crew at about 9.50am.
Colin Tomlinson, District Operations Manager at Yarmouth Coastguard, said: "The problem we encountered was that it meant that we were unable to use the emergency frequency. The signal was being carried on four of our aerials effectively blocking any other emergency call.
"We have known this happen before occasionally but never for quite so long. Coastguards had initially tried to contact the crew on the cargo vessel by broadcasting an appeal on Radio 4 - but on this occasion without success; however we would like to thank the BBC for their prompt response. We fully recognise that this was an accident and not deliberate."
(gmcg)
Coastguards in Great Yarmouth were unable to use the frequency needed for ships to make distress, urgency and safety calls when the button on the cargo vessel's radio handset became accidentally jammed in the 'on' position without the crew realising. The ship then transmitted Radio 4, which was playing on another set, and the sound of the crews' voice for almost five hours.
The Coastguard contacted the BBC who broadcast a message on Radio 4 asking vessels to check their broadcasting equipment.
As the broadcasting continued Coastguards then requested the Wells RNLI Lifeboat to launch and, following the line of the radio signals from the vessel, were eventually able to reach the vessel `Victress', which was found about 10 miles off the north Norfolk coast.
The problem started shortly after 5am and a lifeboat found the vessel and alerted the crew at about 9.50am.
Colin Tomlinson, District Operations Manager at Yarmouth Coastguard, said: "The problem we encountered was that it meant that we were unable to use the emergency frequency. The signal was being carried on four of our aerials effectively blocking any other emergency call.
"We have known this happen before occasionally but never for quite so long. Coastguards had initially tried to contact the crew on the cargo vessel by broadcasting an appeal on Radio 4 - but on this occasion without success; however we would like to thank the BBC for their prompt response. We fully recognise that this was an accident and not deliberate."
(gmcg)
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