Escort A CARGO VESSEL, Ivy, taking water and listing 15 miles south of Douglas Head, was reported to the honorary secretary of Douglas lifeboat station by HM Coastguard at 0900 on Saturday, January 3, and at 0920 the 46' 9" Watson lifeboat R. A. Colby Cubbin No. 1 launched in a north-west gale with rough sea and good visibility. It was three hours to low water.

The lifeboat came up with Ivy at 1034 and started to escort her to a safe anchorage in Douglas Bay; but, only three miles from shore, the cargo vessel changed course and headed out to sea.

The lifeboat followed and when the cargo vessel stopped engines four miles south east of Douglas Head, Coxswain John Griffiths persuaded her captain to accept an escort to safe anchorage.

Two-and-a-half miles from shore, however, Ivy again stopped engines.

At 1300 Ivy lowered her ship's lifeboat and R. A. Colby Cubbin No. 1went alongside and took on board the crew of seven, although, after some discussion with his captain, the engineer rejoined his ship.

Second Coxswain Robert Corran went on board and having persuaded the captain to accept an offer of help, acted as pilot when, at 1502, Ivy made her way to Douglas Bay. Meanwhile the lifeboat headed for station with six crew members from Ivy on board; they were landed at Douglas at 1539 before R. A. Colby Cubbin No. 1 took customs officials out to the cargo vessel and retrieved the second coxswain. After giving all the help she could, the lifeboat left the cargo vessel at 1708 and returned to station at 1810.

Next morning, at 0915 on Sunday, January 4, the Coastguard informed the honorary secretary that, as the weather was deteriorating and Ivy was at anchor in Douglas Bay with only two crew on board, her captain should be advised to move to a safer anchorage in Ramsey Bay. The captain disagreed and refused to move.

At 1315, in view of the weather conditions, the lifeboat was placed on standby. The rest of the crew of the cargo vessel, who were still ashore, did not wish to rejoin their ship, but the captain still refused to move. As there was little the lifeboat could do in thecircumstances the standby was cancelled at 1450.

Some two hours later word was received that the cargo vessel had weighed anchor and was sailing eastwards.

At 1615 R. A. Colby Cubbin No. 1 launched in a south-west-by-west strong breeze with a rough sea and poor visibility and escorted Ivy until, at 1659, Ramsey lifeboat took over. She returned to station at 1735..