Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team was called out after a strange yellow object was spotted off the West Cumbrian coast.
The team responded to a 999 call about the object, which was floating north past Flimby on Friday.
The team said: “We arrived on scene and spoke with the first informant, who identified the object out at sea.
“We were able to identify it as a special marker buoy, which had broken it mooring somewhere and was tracking north with the incoming tide and onshore wind.
“As its current trajectory showed it would land ashore, and without any risk to shipping if it did so, we followed the item along the coast until it landed south of Maryport.
“The item was inspected for any owner identification markers, and secured. Our control room will make contact with local authorities for the owner to collect or for its safe disposal.
“This buoy could well have caused a hazard to vessels and we thank the first informant for reporting their concerns.”
