Fire aboarcLSpanish cargo vesselLifeboats and their crews are often called on to work with the other emergency services and that includes the Fire Service when their work takes them beyond the range of their land-bound appliances.

Margate's Mersey Leonard Kent was involved in just such a service on 20 June 1998 when she was called out to stand by Pans, a Spanishregistered cargo ship which had a fire in her machinery space.

Although not a dramatic service the lifeboat and her crew were still at sea for more than five hours following a 1527 launch at the request of the Coastguard, and their _ - ^ presence was invaluable.

After a 30-minute passage to the ship the lifeboatmen found her anchored and 'dead' with visible heat damage to her funnel and the surrounding accommodation. The only radio communication was with the pilot on a hand-held VHP set, enabling contact to be established with London Port Control and a tug despatched.

The ship's CO2 extinguishers had been discharged, although it was not certain that the fire was out, and the lifeboat stood by until a fire crew had been brought out by helicopter. Once the firefighters had ensured that the fire was out and a tug had arrived the Mersey was able to leave the scene-taking the firemen ashore and landing them at Margate..