Workington, Cumberland - At midnight on 2nd December, 1968, the coxswain reported that a fishing boat was overdue. The life-boat Manchester and Salford XXIX slipped her moorings at 12.20 in a moderate easterly wind with a smooth sea. The tide was ebbing. The fishing boat fired a flare and the life-boat came up with her six miles west of Workbyington. She carried a crew of three.

A net had fouled her propeller. The life-boat took the fishing boat Empress in tow to Workington and returned to her station at 1.55 a.m..