A fishing vessel’s EPIRB was intermittently sending out distress calls near the straight between the Isle of Wight and southern England.
Solent Coastguard had been unable to contact the vessel by VHF radio, and a lifeboat was launched to investigate.
It is important to stay reachable in order to communicate with search and rescue authorities, conserve resources, and possibly help others.
Read more here:
http://www.islandecho.co.uk/news/emergency-beacon-activation-sparks-lifeboat-launch