The sighting of smoke off the coast of Ventnor prompted a call out for HM Coastguard this afternoon (Saturday).
Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team and Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat were tasked at 16:02 following reports of smoke seen in the distance.
Concerned members of the public alerted the Coastguard, which in turn led to Coastguard Rescue Officers being mobilised to the area.
Sandown Lifeboat conducted a search but nothing untoward was found.
Island Echo understands that naval vessels in the area were conducting training resulting in the incident being declared a false alarm with good intent.
If you or someone else is in difficulty on the coast or at sea, or if you spot what you think may be unexploded ordnance, then dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Further safety information can be found at https://coastguardsafety.campaign.gov.uk/.
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Deep Purple was it?
It’s the floating bridge yay!!
or is it just on sea trials ?
Seriously though. Couldn’t the navy have informed the coastguard of the operation. Just a thought, not a criticism.
On an even more serious note . would the floating bridge have even got that far?
Probably not .. ha ha !
I think it was a training exercise by the Dutch Navy
Let um set fire to their own sea. Mmm , do they have one?
It’s because the sea tested positive for CONVID 19.