It has emerged that an oil tanker sailing 350 nautical miles off the Isle of Mull with 21 people on board issued a distress alert to the HM Coastguard because of “large swells” on Saturday afternoon.

“A Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft was sent to investigate and established communications with the vessel,” a spokesperson for the UK’s Coastal & Maritime Agency said in a statement, without detailing from which country the ship was flagged.

The statement continued: “It was determined that there was no need for assistance, and that the vessel would continue with onwards passage.”

Events across the country planned for this weekend have been cancelled due to the weather, and a number of travel disruptions have been reported.

In Merseyside, a River of Light event has been called off for the second day in a row, and Knowsley Safari Park has announced that it will close on Sunday due to “high winds”.

Several markets across the North West have also been cancelled due to the weather, including Quayside Makers Market in Salford and Macclesfield Treacle Market in Cheshire.

Dublin Airport in Ireland has cancelled several outbound and inbound flights and ferry providers such as StenaLine, Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries have cancelled a number of ferry crossings in the Irish Sea.

Jason Kelly, the Met Office’s chief forecaster, said: “People should prepare for the potential for disruption, particularly to travel and power supplies. Secure loose items outside, plan ahead if you are travelling and keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings for your area.”