Fuel Slick Investigated in Rye Bay After Mayday Alert

Volunteer lifeboat crews were launched to investigate a fuel slick in the sea off the Sussex coast following a Mayday alert linked to a possible overnight incident. The Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat was tasked by the UK Coastguard at 9.49am on Sunday to search the Rye Bay area after reports of a visible fuel […]

Volunteer lifeboat crews were launched to investigate a fuel slick in the sea off the Sussex coast following a Mayday alert linked to a possible overnight incident.

The Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat was tasked by the UK Coastguard at 9.49am on Sunday to search the Rye Bay area after reports of a visible fuel smear on the water.

Volunteer crew members quickly launched and made their way to the coordinates provided by the coastguard, beginning a structured search pattern across the area.

During the operation, the crew identified significant patches of polluted water and collected samples to help authorities determine the source of the contamination. Details of the affected locations were also recorded.

At the same time, coastguard aerial teams were deployed above the area, using specialist heat-seeking equipment to search for any vessels or persons potentially linked to the earlier Mayday call.

After around 90 minutes on the water, and following extensive searches of the area, the volunteer crew were stood down by the coastguard.

It is not yet known what caused the fuel slick or whether it is directly linked to the earlier distress call.

The incident marked the fourth call-out of 2026 for the Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat crew.