Harwich lifeboats called to power boat on fire Both of Harwich's lifeboats, the Waveney class John Fison and the Atlantic 21 British Diver II, were called to an incident on the River Orwell on 18 March 1990.A moored power boat had burst into flames, apparently when the engine was started, and a nearby yacht had alerted the Coastguard.

British Diver II was launched at 1041 and made good use of her high speed to arrive at the scene, a popular anchorage at Pin Mill on the River Orwell, by 1120.

She discovered that the sole occupant of the power boat, Sum Speed had been picked up from the water by a dinghy from the yacht which reported the explosion, and had been taken ashore and to hospitalsuffering from burns. His condition was later described as satisfactory.

The blazing power boat drifted alongside a nearby fishing vessel which also began to catch fire, but the crew of the Atlantic were able to put out this second fire with their extinguisher. Sum Speed was settling in the water and sank shortly afterwards, leaving burning fuel on the surface.

John Fison had also been launched to provide back-up, and after the Atlantic had liaised with the fire service and taken a representative aboard the badly damaged fishing vessel, to check that the fire was out, both lifeboats remained in the area until the fire on the water was out before returning to their station at 1215. They were refuelled and ready for service again by 1230..