If you're not with your vessel, call your local marina or harbour master.

If you suspect an emergency that may result in loss of vessel or loss of life, call 999 (In the UK). You can ask the operator to be connected to the Coast Guard.

A Marina, harbourmaster, towing company or coastguard will have access to a crash pump or otherwise waterpump to assist in reducing the water ingress and prevent your boat from sinking.

If you're with your vessel, then the first step is to prevent the water ingress. This could either be from a through hull fitting (rudder shaft, prop shaft, transducers, grey/black water outlet) or from rainwater.

Make sure that you're safe, and take all safety precautions when attempting to stop the water ingress.

If you have the chance to alert any stand byer, marina staff or members of the public - then do so and ask them to get help.

A Marina, harbourmaster, towing company or coastguard will have access to a crash pump or otherwise waterpump to assist in reducing the water ingress and prevent your boat from sinking.

Low batteries mean your bilges won't run and your engine won't start.

Start your engine to charge your batteries or utilise a battery charger. Your local harbour master or marina office should have access to a battery charger.

Ensuring your batteries are topped up before any rainfall or strong wind is crucial.

If your batteries drain fast or frequently, then it is recommended to consult a marine electrician to carry out a systems health check.

A high battery alert can be as a result of a lightning strike or surge in the marina.

Firstly, do not turn on your vessel's electrics. Keep your batteries isolated.

Secondly, check your vessel for any burn marks or otherwise indicators of a lightning strike. This may be visually evident or something that you can smell when onboard.

If you think there may have been a lightning strike, then a marine electrician can assist you in bringing your systems onboard slowly. Turning all your electrics on at once increases the risk of your electrics experiencing catastrophic failure through short circuiting.

A marine electrician may assess the wiring on your vessel to ensure that there are no compromised circuits. This is crucial for preventing electrical fires from manifesting.

In the event of strong rain or wind, it is important to ensure that your batteries are healthy and fully charged in order to handle sustained bilge pump usage.

Check your bilge pumps that they are operational with no debris in the bilges.

Tie down all canvas on the outside of your boat, such as covers and sails. Ideally dropped any head sails so that they don’t risk the chance of unfurling in strong winds.

Double down on any fenders and mooring lines to ensure that your boat is secure and protected.

A suspected grounding event should be treated with caution. Inform your insurers at the first instance, to ask for their advice.

Having your vessel lifted out, and asking a marine surveyor to carry out a check that nothing is compromised, is a prudent approach.

If an immediate lift out is not possible or warranted, then checking the bilges are dry and that there is no water ingress, is a safe first approach.