Bermuda Radio launched a search operation for a missing fishing boat in the early hours of Saturday after the crew failed to return home on time.

A concerned member of the public called the Maritime Operations Centre at just before 3am saying that her son and brother were overdue from a night fishing trip off of Penhurst Park, North Shore.

When the last contact with the vessel was made the crew reported that the vessel’s engine would not start.

Bermuda Radio started VHF radio call-outs to try to contact the vessel and also tried calling the owner’s cellphone, but without luck. The watch officer then called Police who sent a land unit to the area and reported back that they could see a vessel’s running lights offshore.

The concerned mother later told Bermuda Radio that the vessel was being towed back into land.

An incident report statement said: “Bermuda Radio spoke with the owner of the vessel and stressed the importance of keeping adequate communication with shore contacts if any changes of plan occur.

“It is also helpful for vessels who intend on overnight fishing to file a float-plan with Bermuda Radio, therefore in the event of urgency, full details are on hand for RCC Bermuda to assist accordingly.”