Ferry aground in North Sea Cromer - East Division An arduous service by Cromer's Tyne class lifeboat to a 5,000 ton roll-on, rolloff ferry which was aground in bad weather has earned the Coxswain, Richard Davies, a letter of appreciation from the RNLI's chief of operations.

The lifeboat, Ruby and Arthur Reed II, was launched at 2300 on 14 February 1989 when the Tor Gothia reported she was aground on the Mid Haisbro sands and needed immediate assistance. Extra crew were taken aboard the lifeboat in view of the size of the vessel and the weather conditions - a SW Force 6 to 7 wind, rain and 20ft to 30ft seas.

The 18-mile passage to the casualty took some 35 minutes, and on arrival the lifeboat found 'confused and boiling seas' around the vessel, which drew 15ft but was in some 10ft of water.

After checking all around the vessel the lifeboat stood by until a tug arrived at 0445. Despite a broken throttle cable the coxswain then transferred an officer from the tug to the ferry in difficult conditions -earning the praise of the tug's master for his expertise - and waited for the Sheringham lifeboat to arrive at the scene before setting course for Great Yarmouth to repair the cable and refuel.

Ruby and Arthur Reed II was back at the scene by 1130, shortly after the ferry had managed to refloat herself and checked the ferry for damage before the Tor Gothia continued her passage to Immingham at 1230.

It was not until 1400, more than 13 hours after launching that she was back on station and ready for service..