FIREMAN TAKEN TO LEAKING TUG Caister, Norfolk. At 6.50 on the morning of the 21st April, 1962, the crew of a fishing boat came ashore to report that flares had been fired from two vessels about three miles northeast- by-north from Caister. On going alongside the fishermen had found that the vessels were the tugs Danny and Ness of Aberdeen and that they urgently needed a pump, as they were taking water after going aground. A message was sent from the life-boat station to a tug owner at Great Yarmouth, but when it was learnt that it would be at least an hour before the tug could reach the position the Norfolk fire service were asked for a pump. The pump arrived at eight o'clock, and after it had been taken aboard, the life-boat Jose Neville was launched at 8.10 with a fireman aboard. There was a light south-south-easterly breeze and a smooth sea, and it was two hours after low water. The tugs, which were bound for a breaker's yard in Holland, were found three quarters of a mile north of Caister Elbow drifting slowly south.

It was then learnt that only the tug Danny was taking water. Pumping began, and she was almost dry by the time the tug arrived from Great Yarmouth to take both the Danny and the Ness in tow. The tugs had by then drifted to within a mile of Great Yarmouth harbour, but the pump was still used until both tugs were safely moored in harbour. The life-boat left Great Yarmouth at two o'clock and reached her station at 2.40..