False alarm from fishing boat’s emergency beacon

The Faroese maritime rescue coordination centre (MRCC) received an emergency signal from a fishing boat’s EPIRB beacon east of Suðuroy on Friday morning, KVF reports.

Authorities quickly identified the vessel and prepared a rescue helicopter, but the aircraft was not deployed. Contact with the boat and its owners proved difficult, though the Suðuroy northern rescue association eventually established communication.

It was confirmed that the EPIRB had activated accidentally and there was no actual emergency.