31/08/2026
LAUNCH 📟 Portree lifeboat Peter and Mary and her volunteer crew were paged at just before 2.30pm on Sunday 30 August, following a request to launch by HM Coastguard who had received a report of a distress alert beacon being activated in the Loch Torridon area.
These beacons, called EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), are designed to automatically send out a distress alert in the event of an emergency.
Portree lifeboat launched and started making best speed towards the area. Our flanking station at Kyle Lifeboat RNLI and the HM Coastguard Rescue 948 helicopter from Stornoway were also called to the scene in response to the alert.
After conducting a search of the Loch Torridon area, and with no emergency evident, Portree lifeboat was stood down and the alert beacon determined to be a false alarm.
Stuart Nicolson, Coxswain at Portree RNLI, said:
‘We made best speed towards the Loch Torridon area in order to start searching for any sign of distress, following the report from HM Coastguard that the EPIRB had been activated. Although the alert was determined to be a false alarm after searches were completed, it is always incredibly important that we get to the area as quickly as possible in case there is an emergency that requires immediate attention.
‘I would like to share my thanks to all the vessels that were in the local area who also responded to the emergency alert.’
