At 11.48 a.m. on 20th May, 1967, it was reported that the motor fishing vessel Emulate II had fired a flare between Brimsness and Dounresy and was drifting on to rocks. The life-boat Pentland (Civil Service No. 31} was launched at 12 noon in a moderate south easterly breeze and a moderate sea. The tide was ebbing. The life-boat came up with the Emulate II with three people on board, and took her in tow to Scrabster. The vessel was disabled with a fouled propeller. The lifeboat returned to her station at 3.35 p.m..