Ex-trawler ablaze THE HARWICH Waveney class relief lifeboat Khami was returning from a publicity visit to the East Coast Boat Show at Ipswich on the afternoon of Sunday, June 14, 1987, when the fiveman crew spotted smoke billowing from the former trawler Mary La, at anchor in the River Orwell, near Kevington Marina.

The crew, together with Harwich branch chairman Mr Howard Bell and station honorary secretary Captain Rod Shaw, were dressed in functional clothing and lifejackets, although they were wearing good clothing beneath in order to appear smartly turned-out at the show.

The fire was reported by Thames Coastguards at about the same time as the lifeboat crew had spotted the smoke.

The coastguards were asked to alert local fire services, while Second Coxswain David Gilders and his crew prepared the extinguishers and fire hose.

On arrival alongside the 70ft vessel, it was seen that a dinghy trailed astern and it was assumed that the three-man crew of the Mary La were aboard.

The fire was below decks and much noise was being created by the burning materials. The lifeboat crew shouted to try to locate crew members aboard Mary La, but to no effect.

Captain Shaw, accompanied by Emergency Mechanic Kenneth Brand and Crew Member Paul Smith boarded the burning vessel, despite the emission of heavy acrid smoke from various openings and signs of fire about to break through the deck.

While other crew members began work with buckets, extinguishers andfire hose. Captain Shaw decided that the fore hatch should be opened for inspection (the seat of the fire being towards the vessel's stern).

The hatch was opened with great care and covered by the hose. When deemed safe. Crew Member Smith entered the forward compartment—closely followed by Captain Shaw—and began searching.

The owner of Mary La arrived alongside in a small dinghy at around 1430 and was able to confirm that no-one else was aboard the former trawler, which he had been converting to a pleasure craft.

As the smoke cleared, once the fire was extinguished, the lifeboat crew observed a horrific cocktail of hazardous material below decks.

Pressurised containers of acetylene, oxygen, propane and butane gas were located alongside petrol and diesel fuel.

Boxes of polystyrene and cork tiles had produced most of the smoke and there was also a range of other combustible materials on board.

With small outbreaks of fire still occurring in hot spots, the lifeboat crew began removing all possibly hazardous items to the upper deck, while damping down continued.

At 1610 the fire service dory Suffire I, having returned ashore for more personnel, made fast alongside and took over the completion of the operation.

The lifeboat left for Harwich, returning to station at 1645. The boat was refuelled and ready for service at 1710.

Following this service a framed letter of thanks signed by the Duke of Atholl, the Institution's chairman,' was presented to Second Coxswain David Gilders, Emergency Mechanic Kenneth Branch, Crew MembersPeter Dawson, Paul Smith and Robert Barton, branch chairman Mr Howard Bell and station honorary secretary Captain Rod Shaw..