Red Funnel’s vehicle ferry ‘Red Eagle’ has joined an ongoing search for a potential vessel or person in distress on the Solent tonight (Sunday).
It is understood that a red flare was seen in the night sky over the western half of the Solent shortly before 21:00, sparking an urgent call to be made to Solent Coastguard.
Coastguard Rescue 175 helicopter from Lee-on-Solent is currently conducting a sweep up and down the Solent to the north of Gurnard, whilst Calshot RNLI’s D-Class inshore lifeboat scans from the sea.
The crew of Red Eagle are assisting in the search and rescue operation and have diverted from the normal Southampton-East Cowes route. Those on board are being kept informed of the situation and have been told that they will be delayed landing at East Cowes this evening.
Island Echo understands that Red Jet 7 has also been involved in the search, but the high-speed vessel has since docked at Cowes.
UPDATE @ 21:32 – Red Eagle has now been stood down from the search by HM Coastguard, who are coordinating the search and rescue efforts.
Passengers have been delayed by around 15 minutes or so.
UPDATE MONDAY – It has been confirmed that last night’s search was prompted as a result of a speedboat that had suffered an engine failure off Lepe Beach.
The 3 persons on board the vessel, which was drifting, had sent up the flare as a way of calling for help.
Coastguard Rescue 175 was able to locate the casualty vessel and used a powerful search light to illuminate their position. Calshot’s D-Class lifeboat then moved in.
Upon the arrival of the RNLI crew, a fixed astern tow was established and the speedboat was towed to Calshot shore.
well done to all those that helped