The Harwich lifeboat were out on the River Orwell at the weekend dealing with a supposed crash between the Orwell Lady river cruiser and the sailing barge Victor.
The activity was, in actual fact, a crew safety training event for the teams from both pleasure craft, which are based at Ipswich Waterfront.
Emma Lightfoot, director of Orwell River Cruises, said: “We do this every year, at the end of the season, getting together for various scenarios out on the river.
“We did first aid and passenger overboard drills, and we ran over procedures for dealing with a fire on board.
“We dealt with multiple casualties from a collision on the river. I was one of them.
“The Victor and the Orwell Lady both benefit from it. It works for both parties. The lifeboat was also able to use it as a training exercise.
“It is great to have everybody working as a team. We were really pleased with it.”
The 2018 season had now been completed, she said, with pleasure cruises from Ipswich resuming at Easter 2019.
She added: “We have had a very good season. The weather has been great.
“With the hot weather people wanted to get out on the river to cool off, which has worked in our favour.
“We already have the dates in the diary for next year, starting at Easter.”
During the winter a range of maintenance, painting and repair work will take place on board.
She addsd: “In the New Year we will be out of the water for our MCA checks, at Haven Marina.”
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