Ten passengers and two crew members, who were on a maritime tourist vessel sailing 3.5 nautical miles south of Tabua, had to be evacuated from the boat yesterday as it presented mechanical problems.
The alert was received by the Coastal Rescue Center, and the SANAS Madeira vessel assigned to the Santa Cruz lifeguard station was then engaged to remove the people, some of whom were already unwell.
SANAS then returned to the location to tow the vessel to the Funchal Marina.