Lifeboat’s 70-mile rescue on its final day of service
Scarborough RNLI’s Mersey all-weather lifeboat undertook a marathon 70-mile rescue on the last day of its 25 years of service.
On Sunday, the coastguard called the lifeboat out to help a stricken fishing boat.
Steering problems disabled the 65-ton, 15-metre Ocean Spray near a gas platform about 35 nautical miles north-east.
The former trawler, which had been fishing for crabs, had no steering and limited propulsion. Fortunately, the sea was calm and the weather clear, so the boat sat tight until the lifeboat came to its rescue.
The Mersey launched at 11.30am and took nine hours to reach and recover Ocean Spray, with its crew of three.
The return journey was painfully slow, travelling at five knots an hour.
The Mersey was coxswained by Lee Marton, who had been planning to attend his sister’s Christmas party.
The rescue had a poignant air as the lifeboat crew knew that in all likelihood it would be the last shout in the Mersey, after a quarter of a century’s faithful and distinguished service to the town.
John Senior, lifeboat operations manager, said: “After a marathon 35-mile tow and a nine-hour trip, the ALB is now safely home and ready for service.
“Well done to all involved.” The Mersey retired on Monday and the new Shannon lifeboat has become operational. The photograph, taken by Mick Bayes, shows the Mersey towing Ocean Spray into the harbour following the rescue.