Escort EYEMOUTH DEPUTY LAUNCHING AUTHORITY was informed by HM Coastguard at 1608 on Tuesday February 14 that a number of fishing boats were about to attempt to enter harbour and, as sea conditions in Eyemouth Roadstead were very dangerous, the lifeboat was requested to stand by. The maroons were fired at 1613 and seven minutes later Eyemouth's 44ft Waveney lifeboat Eric Seal (Civil Service No. 36) slipped her moorings and set out into the rough sea.

It was cloudy with visibility at two miles, a moderate breeze, force 4, was blowing from the north north east and the tide was flooding when the lifeboat arrived in the roadstead. She escorted each boat in turn into harbour and by 1740 13 boats had returned. She then learned from the Coastguard that another two boats were due at 1815 and the coxswain decided to stay at sea and wait for them. At 1820 the two boats arrived in the roadstead and as it was now dark the lifeboat fired parachute flares to enable a better watch to be kept on the sea. Both boats were escorted to safety after which the lifeboat returned to her moorings where she was refuelled and again made ready for service at 1835..