Volunteer rescue teams were called after receiving a distress signal from a boat.
Maryport Rescue and Workington RNLI responded to the distress signal at about 1.30pm today, January 10.
But the signal turned out to be a false alarm, given in error while the vessel was being worked on at Whitehaven.
The Maryport charity's lifeboat was already at sea when it was discovered it was a false alarm.
The RNLI lifeboat was being prepared for launch.
Maryport Rescue station officer Mike Messenger said they the volunteers were called out after receiving the satellite distress signal.
The signal indicated that the boat was in or close to Maryport harbour.
Mr Messenger said: "It turned out to be a false alarm. The signal had accidentally been switched on during some maintenance work but it is excellent to see how it worked."
It was Maryport Rescue's second callout of the day.
At 6.30am the charity was called out by Cumbria police and the Coastguard to assist a "despondent" male.
He was located by the police and was unharmed.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here