Aground in a storm THE NOTORIOUS North Scroby Sands, off the Norfolk coast, near Great Yarmouth, claimed another victim on the night of November 18/19, 1986, when the rig tender Seaforth Conqueror ran aground there in a south-south-westerly force 10 storm.

She was spotted at 2315 on Tuesday 18 by a member of the public who alerted the coxswain of Caister Volunteer lifeboat, Roland Read. As the tide was falling, the lifeboat Shirley Jean Adye (ex-RNLI 35ft 6in Liverpool class) was launched immediately from her carriage, proceeding north at full speed around the Caister sands and then south east to the casualty, arriving at 2336.

The Seaforth Conqueror was found to be aground on the North Scroby Sands, heading north west and with the very heavy, short confused seas breaking over her after decks. The wind was south south west force 9 to 10 and the sea state was magnified as they drove onto the shallow water, giving heights of 10 to 15 feet, with continuous blown spray and rain squalls.

The tide was setting north at 1.5 knots.

Coxswain Read was asked by the master of the casualty on VHP to take a line of soundings around the vessel, but the large rise and fall meant that none would show on the echo meter. The Shirley Jean Adye took up station west of the casualty, head to the sea in the deeper water, maintaining position.

Meanwhile, at 2321 Yarmouth Coastguard told the honorary secretary of Great Yarmouth and Gorleston station of the tender's situation and within 15 minutes the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat Barham, a 44ft Waveney class, cleared from her pen and proceeded on service.

Once clear of the sheltered launch position, Barham met the full force of the seas, but maintained full speed on a northerly course towards the Seaforth Conqueror. Twice power had to be taken off (to avoid broaching) as the lifeboat sheered in the rough following seas. The stranded tender, with Caister Volunteer lifeboat standing by, was reached at 0001 on Wednesday, November 19.

Nine minutes later it was decided to abandon the Seaforth Conqueror and agreed that Caister lifeboat should take off the crew of eight, leaving the master and chief engineer aboard to close down.With Gorleston lifeboat illuminating the scene by searchlight and parachute flares and standing by to pick up any survivors lost over the side during the transfer, Caister lifeboat took off the eight crew, clearing the casualty by 0130. During the transfer Coxswain Read and a crew member held the fore and aft mooring ropes, as the 12ft rise and fall meant the ropes could not be made fast.

- The remaining crew members helped the survivors aboard via a rope ladder.

Gorleston lifeboat started a run-in from north west of the Seaforth Conqueror, with her starboard side to the casualty's starboard side, but twice hit the bottom and had to withdraw astern.

Again the Barham ran in, but a large sea running over the tender's work deck drove her off and she quickly cleared out astern.

Another attempt proved successful, allowing the casualty's master to get aboard the lifeboat from the ladder.

The chief engineer was last to be taken off, having completed the shutting down, and again it took the Barham two attempts to run in before the evacuation of the Seaforth Conqueror was completed at 0146.

Barham returned to Yarmouth at 0230 and was remoored, refuelled and ready for service at 0245. Shirley Jean Adye arrived in Yarmouth at 0320, when the remaining survivors were taken ashore. The Caister lifeboat stayed in the river overnight.

Following this service, the thanks of the Institution on vellum was awarded to Barham'?, Coxswain/Mechanic Richard John Hawkins, and also to Coxswain Roland Read, of Caister Volunteer lifeboat. Vellum service certificates were awarded to the two lifeboat crews, as follows: Barham - Second Coxswain David Mason, Crew Members Michael Brown, Geoffrey Wing, Rodney Wells, Patrick Lee, Paul Carter and David Grief; Shirley Jean Adye - Crewmen James Weddall, Malcolm Dyble, Colin Richmond, Donald Griffin and Michael Nutt..