Busy weekend for marine safety services

vilamoura Ferragudo lifeboat was called out to rescue boat in difficulties near the coastline.

The request for assistance was received by the authorities at 16:40 on Saturday, January 20. The SOS was sent by the skipper of a leisure boat that was drifting close to the coast, in front of Salgados Beach, Albufeira, with 11 passengers on board, seven adults and four children.

The port captain of Portimão called on the Ferragudo lifeboat crew who arrived on the scene at around 5 pm and towed the boat to Albufeira marina.

Also on Saturday, the Faro Maritime Police dealt with a case of gas inhalation on board a Spanish-registered pleasure craft in Vilamoura marina, (pictured).

The three victims, all Spanish and aged between 44 and 70, were assisted on the spot by an emergency medical team and then transported to Faro Hospital.

Using gas masks, Loulé bombeiros inspected the interior of the vessel to find that gas was emanating from the chemical toilet.

As a precaution, the owner was advised to stay overnight while a company specialising in the cleaning of waste water tanks did exactly that.

In Olhão, the local police found two boats that had been reported stolen.

According to information from the Maritime Authority, the boats, minus their engines, were later dusted for fingerprints which may well lead police to the ‘usual suspects.’

The above content produced by swissinfo.ch is not intended for commercial use and may not be republished by third parties either wholly or in part.