Joint service saves vessel and crew St Bees inshore lifeboat and Workington's relief all-weather Mersey worked together to save the 65ft fishing vessel Capella and her crew of four on 14 July 1996.

The St Bees Atlantic was already standing by when the Mersey, Lifetime Care, arrived at 0515 to find Capella aground, down by the stern and listing to port as she filled on the flooding tide. The lifeboat's salvage pump could not keep up with the flow, so a fire pump was called for and all valuables taken aboard Lifetime Care.

With nothing to lose in trying to float her off, a tow line was put on the starboard quarter and Capella partially righted as she came clear, levelling herself up but very low in the water. Ten minutes later St Bees' Atlantic returned with the fire service, and with two pumps running the casualty was towed safely to Whitehaven..