The Royal National Lifeboat George Elmy served on the station at Seaham Harbour from 15 January 1950 until 17 November 1962 when it was involved in a disaster that affected the whole community. In an effort to rescue a fishing coble in distress, five lifeboat crew, three fishermen and a nine-year old boy died within a boat’s length of the North Dock. The tragedy received much national coverage at the time and is considered a significant piece of local heritage that is still in the minds of people today.

The boat was restored to its original condition and is being used, along with the story of the disaster, as a tool for younger audiences to learn about the social, industrial and maritime heritage of Seaham and East Durham.

The project has driven the group on to bigger things and they now occupy permanent premises in the Seaham Harbour Marina, where the George Elmy has pride of place within a heritage centre that has had in excess of 10,000 visitors since opening.