Two boats suffering from engine failure led to the launch of lifeboats in the south and north on Thursday.

The first incident happened at 4.25pm when Belfast coastguard received a call from the owner of an 18 foot motor boat with two adults and a child which had suffered engine failure about 400 yards behind Port St Mary breakwater.

At the time the Port St Mary all weather lifeboat Gough Ritchie 2, with its volunteer crew, was on exercise at Langness about two miles away. The exercise was quickly abandoned and in the clear conditions the lifeboat sped to the casualty.

On hearing the radio call for assistance a diving boat the Kirree Varrey, skippered by Mike Keggen a Port St Mary coxswain and son Tom - who is a crew member - also sped to the scene and took the vessel in tow until the lifeboat arrived.

The Gough Ritchie then towed the small vessel safely back to port arriving just after 5pm. The lifeboat then returned to Langness to complete the exercise of man overboard training.

At 7.40pm Ramsey lifeboat was launched to render assistance to a seven-metre potting vessel with two people on board. The vessel had broken down about half a mile south east of Port Mooar with engine failure.

The vessel had no anchor or auxiliary means of propulsion. The Coastguard was alerted using a mobile phone. Neither of the occupants was hurt.

In fair weather conditions and a slight sea, Ramsey’s relief lifeboat 12-21 Margaret Jean, with coxswain Mark Kenyon at the helm was alongside the broken down vessel by 8.05pm.

The vessel was towed to Ramsey harbour. As the tide was falling and there was insufficient depth of water to access Ramsey inner harbour the vessel was safely moored at the harbour entrance.

The lifeboat was recovered to the boathouse, made ready for service again and the volunteer crew stood down by 9.30pm.

Dr Gordon Dickens, a member of the shore crew and also a lifeboat sea safety officer for the Isle of Man, said: ’This incident had a happy ending for all concerned.

’It was daylight and sea conditions were fair. In this sort of situation a tried and tested means of anchoring plus a standby means of power is useful.

’The mobile phone worked well in this case but a VHF radio is preferable as the signal can be traced thus enabling a vessel in distress to be located. And it is always advisable to wear a life jacket.’