Unable to raise search parties from either Somalia or Djibouti, the UKMCC urged the UK Maritime Trade Organization to step in and search for a UK-coded EPIRB off their coast. Anti-piracy forces in the area were mobilised, including a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) that saw only the flashing beacon, followed by a Spanish helicopter launched from a frigate, which found 8 people in the water, their vessel having been sunk without a trace.
The survivors were Yemeni nationals and had been the crew of a dhow which had sunk. All the crew were recovered. It is believed that the beacon was on a UK registered ship which was scrapped several years ago and the EPIRB had been sold on the black market. However the beacon happened to be on that vessel it was fortunate that the UKMCC operator pushed for a search. Without his diligence these men would surely have died. This alert also showed the multi-national cooperation that is often required during distress alerts and SAR.