WIREDGOV

An angling boat had to be rescued yesterday afternoon after it got lost in fog in Swansea Bay.

The 22-foot angling boat was on its way home from a fishing trip when the fog thickened and they became disorientated. They contacted Swansea Coastguard to report that the GPS on board wasnt working and as the tide was going out and they couldnt see where they were they had decided to drop anchor and wait for the fog to lift.

Swansea Coastguard sent Mumbles RNLI Lifeboat to search the water and Mumbles Coastguard Rescue Team to their reported position to see if they could hear the boat. After an hour and a half of searching the lifeboat found the angling vessel and brought it safely back to Swansea Marina.

Swansea Coastguard Watch Manager Steven Matthews said:
Spring fog is a well known phenomenon and our misty morning quickly became thick fog.

These conditions are forecast to be around for the next couple of days and so this incident is a timely reminder for all mariners that navigating by what you can see is a very risky strategy.

The MCA recommends that all inshore boats should be fitted with VHF DSC radio equipment which can send a distress alert and, if it is linked up to a GPS, an accurate position of your vessel to the Coastguard with one touch of a button. You should also carry flares.

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