Burnham's Atlantic lifeboat was called into action on Christmas Eve, after a Russian timber ship went off course and rammed some moored boats.
The ship, The Kapitan Rynstyn, had set off from the Baltic Wharf at Wallasea Island on the south side of the River Crouch heading for Russia, when it encountered steering problems
Instead of navigating through the shipping channel, it went off course and through the moorings Spokeswoman for the lifeboat station, Mandi Tickner, said: "It brushed aside a motorboat called Moonfleet that was on its mooring with one person on board.
"The boat sustained minimal damage and the occupant was unhurt. The ship then hit a motor sailing boat called Noosa which was on its mooring, but unoccupied.
"This boat sustained a significant amount of damage and was cut free from its mooring by the impact.
By then the ship had dropped anchor. The lifeboat was alerted by an off-duty lifeboat crewman, Neil Baker, who had witnessed the incident from the shore.
The lifeboat was launched to ensure that the person on board the Moonfleet was unhurt and the Noosa was recovered and secured onto another mooring by the lifeboat
The Russian ship was towed by two local tugboats back to a point upriver of the Baltic Wharf where it was able to be turned around safely.
Published Friday January 2, 2004
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