LONG SEARCH FOR UNLIT BOAT Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland.

At 10.10 on the evening of Tuesday the 20th of August, 1963, what appeared to be burning material was seen a number of times about half a mile off shore and two miles north of Berwick.

The honorary secretary decided to launch the life-boat William and Mary Durham at 10.30 p.m. to investigate.

The tide was fivehoursebb,thelightwind was in the north-west and there was a moderate sea running inshore. A search of the area where the lights were seen proved negative, so a wider area was covered with the aid of the searchlight and parachute flares, but again without result. At two o'clock the next morning the life-boat returned to harbour to check that the boat had not already come ashore and to warn the fishing fleet, which was about to put to sea, of the casualty and to co-ordinate any further efforts. The assistance of a helicopter was requested at first light. With the wind in the north-west and the ebb tide it was felt that the casualty might have carried south-east, and Holy Island life-boat was asked to assist in the search. At 2.30 a.m. the life-boat put to sea again and searched south-east of Berwick light. Almost an hour later she found a 16-foot open boat, with a crew of two, five miles east by south of the light. A rope had fouled her propeller and the boat was towed into harbour.

The boat had no navigation lights and her anchor rope was not long enough to reach the bottom. The life-boat was rehoused at 4.40 a.m. The assistance of the helicopter was not required..