Tenby RNLI has issued urgent advice after the all-weather lifeboat was called out to investigate an open mic transmitting on VHF channel 16 in the Saundersfoot Bay area.

The lifeboat launched around 1am on Sunday, June 15, after Milford Haven Coastguard detected the transmission.

The volunteer crew were soon in the area believed to be the source of the transmission and began a search using the Radio Direction Finder (DF) and radar.

Unable to detect the source, the crews of a local fishing boat and a buoy laying vessel were spoken to. Both boats were able to hear the transmission, but having checked their equipment, both crews were sure it wasn’t them. Whilst awaiting further instructions from the Coastguard, the transmission stopped.

With channel 16 now freed up and the Coastguard able to receive any potential distress calls again, the lifeboat was then stood down to return to station, arriving at 1.35am.

A spokesperson for Tenby RNLI said:

“Channel 16 is the designated international distress frequency and it is used for Mayday and other urgent communications, as well as making initial contact with the Coastguard.

“Having an open mic on this channel is a huge issue and means that the Coastguard would have been prevented from receiving any Mayday calls, which could end in disaster for any vessel trying to make one.

“We recommend VHF radios are checked regularly to ensure they are in good working condition and do not have any buttons stuck down, to help prevent issues like this from happening.”

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.