NATIONAL NEWS
The story of Laser made the BBC and ITV news programmes nationally on the 6th and all the national daily papers on the 7th. Most of the papers carried somewhat exaggerated reports of scurvy, lack of food, water and fuel and the crew on the point of mutiny. The Colchester Evening gazette later reported that HM Customs officials were the first to board the ship when she arrived at Harwich, police also went on board to speak to the crew, but a spokesman said there was no intention of any arrests being made, as no offences had been committed. The station manager of Laser, Mr John Catlett denied the reports of lack of food and water and that staff hadn't been paid and said "I just want to get on board and find out what is happening and get her back to the North Sea". He added "I just don't know why the captain has taken this action, that the only reason he had come into harbour was because of the safety of the crew after the generator failed". The paper also confirmed that a writ had been served on behalf of the former owners and that a replacement master had been put on board to take the ship out, if it is allowed to leave harbour.

The Communicator in the River Stour