Morse code, the dots-and-dashes signalling system first used at sea on the Titanic and long since consigned to the scrapheap, made a triumphant comeback this week in the rescue of a stranded fisherman.
The man had run aground near Hayling Island on the south coast when his boat began taking on water. He had no modern safety aids and no phone — but it was dark and he did have a torch.
Using the code’s legendary short and long flashes, he managed to communicate the SOS distress message to the coast-guard building, where rescue officer Steve Mann was on duty.
”I was absolutely amazed to see the flashed SOS message,” Mann (31) said. ”I never thought I would ever see it. My colleagues, who have been here for about 12 years, have never heard of such a case before. It is very unconventional.”
A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said Morse ”never happens any more”.
Nowadays most seamen have VHF radio, flares or at least cellphones, if they are inshore, to send an emergency message.
But the fisherman, who had transferred all his safely equipment from his fishing vessel on to a new boat, had none of these for his trip from Emsworth to nearby Thornham Marina on Thursday evening. Just the torch.
Morse code is no longer part of coast-guard training.
Mann, who has been with the coast guard for the past two years, added: ”I have just picked up bits of Morse along the way.”
He added: ”This man was caught out on the one occasion he went to sea with absolutely no safety equipment. Even without radio communication, going to sea without even a portable flare is extremely dangerous and could cost you your life.”
The stricken fisherman was later picked up by a coast-guard inshore lifeboat. — Reuters