Propeller fouled AT ABOUT 2100 on Thursday June 1, HM Coastguard informed the honorary secretary of Hartlepool lifeboat station that a Shackleton aircraft and a helicopter were searching for the MFV Dolphin whose trawl had caught on an underwater obstruction and had fouled her propeller. The intention had been to drop skin divers with wire cutters to free the propeller, but the aircraft were unable to sight the vessel. At 2130 Hartlepool's 44ft Waveney lifeboat The Scout was placed on standby.

The weather was good, with fair to good visibility, light variable winds and a smooth sea when, at 2205, the helicopter returned to base bringing with her the skin divers and The Scout let go her moorings and set off at full speed to the search area.

In the position given there was no sign of any vessel, nor was there anysign on the radar screen. The lifeboat widened the area of search and let go flares at eight miles from Hartlepool and again at 12'/2 miles. This last flare was seen by the casualty which, in turn, set off a distress flare.

The Scout closed the casualty at 0015 on June 2 and within half an hour the propeller had been freed and the vessel was able to return to Hartlepool under her own power, escorted by the lifeboat.

The Scout returned to her moorings and was again made ready for sea at 0430..