Bernard Matthews II
   
     
Callout to Dredger Sand Falcon 26th July 2006    
     
For the crew of Caister Lifeboat the 26th July 2006 proved to offer a different experience to that of the Royal Visit just a year ago. It was a quiet, warm, hazy summers day on Caister beach, the Lifeboat had launched at 3.00 p.m. with the Royal Navy Bomb Disposal Team onboard, but the many beach visitors carried on oblivious of what was happening just a short distance offshore.

When I arrived at 3.15 pm the dredger Sand Falcon, which had raised the bomb, was anchored stationary off the Barber Sands. The Royal Navy Bomb Disposal Team had been taken to the dredger to deal with the bomb and the lifeboat was maintaining an exclusion zone around the vessel. H.M. Coastguards were in communication with all vessels during the operation and had stationed a patrol on the beach at Caister. By 3.30 p.m. The Navy had removed the bomb and were moored at a buoy a safe distance to the North of the dredger, presumably, carrying out routine inspection and preparations for its disposal.

At 4.00 p.m. whilst the Caister Lifeboat stood by, the Navy took the bomb to the North of the wind farm, and safely disposed of it in 10 metres of water at 4.06 p.m. Unfortunately due to the distance and the hazy conditions the operation could not be seen or even heard from the shoreline.

The Lifeboat returned to Caister at 4.46 p.m. where the conditions were virtually flat calm, ideal for its recovery directly into the carriage, i.e. by reversing in as if into a garage.

The crew were 2nd Coxswain Ivan Jones, Richard Thurlow Jnr, Paul Garrod and Jason Delf.
The tractor driver was Owen Nutt.
     

 

3.22 p.m. The Lifeboat had launched at 3.00 p.m.
Picture Anthony Benson

Owen Nutt the tractor driver on this occasion awaits the return
Picture Anthony Benson

  
     

 

The Sand Falcon anchored off the Barber Sands
Picture Anthony Benson

The Royal Navy Bomb Disposal team approaches the vessel
Picture Jason Delf

  
     

 

Drawing alongside
Picture Jason Delf

The Royal Navy Bomb Disposal team recovers the bomb
Picture Jason Delf

  
     

 

The Lifeboat returns to Caister 4.40 p.m.
Picture Anthony Benson

The Royal Navy Bomb Disposal Team recover their inflatable
Picture Anthony Benson

  
     

 


Picture Anthony Benson


Picture Anthony Benson

  
     

 


Picture Anthony Benson

Ivan Jones 2nd Coxswain takes the lifeboat for a
quick circuit before returning to the beach
Picture Anthony Benson

  
     

 


Picture Anthony Benson


Picture Anthony Benson

  
     

 

Almost flat calm conditions.
Picture Anthony Benson

The carriage awaits
Picture Anthony Benson

  
     

 

Reversing into the carriage 4.45 p.m.
Picture Anthony Benson

Just like backing into a gararge!
Picture Anthony Benson

  
     

 


Picture Anthony Benson


Picture Anthony Benson

  
     

 


Picture Anthony Benson


Picture Anthony Benson

  
     

 


Picture Anthony Benson


Picture Anthony Benson

  
     

 


Picture Anthony Benson


Picture Anthony Benson

  
     

 

Owen carefully raises the hydraulic jacks to secure the boat
Picture Anthony Benson

Driving up the beach 4.47 p.m.
Picture Anthony Benson

  
     

 

Paul Garrod, Jason Delf and the beach crew assist the
Royal Navy team.
Picture Anthony Benson

Another job well done! Jason surveys the scene whilst Ivan
looks over the bow 4.53 p.m.
Picture Anthony Benson