FALMOUTH'S harbour master has reacted to a court case in which a man pleaded guilty to three offences on his motorised boat.

Shaun Pelter, aged 58, whose address was given as MV Seaclusion, c/o Falmouth Harbour, admitted failing to have lights, not maintaining a proper lookout and failing to navigate a vessel with such care and caution and at such speed, so as not to endanger lives.

Following the hearing at Truro Magistrates' Court on Monday, Mark Sansom, harbour master and chief executive of Falmouth Harbour Commissioners said: “This case demonstrates the need for those using the harbour to act responsibly and to comply with regulations to avoid putting themselves and others at risk.

"Had it not been for the prompt actions of those in the vicinity who raised the alarm promptly and effectively, there may well have been a tragic outcome."

Pelter's boat hit a buoy and capsized, causing him and a friend to fall overboard.

It resulted in a major rescue operation by Emergency Services including a coastguard helicopter, lifeboats, police and ambulance on March 21 this year.

An account posted on the RNLI website on Friday, March 22, recalls the incident:

"Two lives were saved late on Thursday evening, when the Falmouth RNLI volunteer crews were paged in response to a member of the public’s concern that they could hear calls for help from the harbour waters.

"The inshore lifeboat was requested to launch at 9.27pm on Thursday 21 March, with Helm Neil Capper, Tom Telford and Tamara Brookes aboard. Heading to the Prince of Wales pier, where the shouts were heard from, the crew began to search for the individual.

"They soon heard shouting and found one individual holding onto a mooring. He appeared hypothermic and tired from being in the water for what may have been some time, however managed to tell the crew that him and another friend’s tender had capsized, despite the calm conditions, meaning there was someone else in the water too. At this, the all-weather lifeboat and boarding boat were tasked to launch to assist in searching for the other man. The first person was taken to the Prince of Wales pier and passed into the care of the waiting Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team and ambulance teams.

"The inshore lifeboat then returned to search further. The second person was found clinging to a small part of the upturned dinghy, and was recovered and, again appearing hypothermic, was taken to the pier and passed to the teams waiting there. The inshore lifeboat then recovered the dinghy, the all-weather boat was stood down and the three boats returned to the lifeboat station to be refuelled and made ready for service."

Truro magistrates fined Pelter £300 for each of the three offences and ordered him to pay costs of £2,142. He was also required to pay £30 victim surcharge.