In 1977 "Mincarlo" was converted and began a new career as a stand-by vessel in the flourishing southern North Sea gas fields. She was also renamed and was now called "Putford Merlin". In 1989 after a career which had spanned 28 years, she was finally replaced by a built for purpose stand-by ship. She was laid-up, back where she began life, at the yard of Brooke’s. After her working life had finished she was sold by Putford Enterprise to the Lydia Eva Trust Ltd who paid a nominal £1 to Putford. After a period of restoration and refurbishment the "Mincarlo" was opened to the public in 1998. The "Mincarlo" is on display at Lowestoft Heritage Quay and is sometimes moved to South Quay at Great Yarmouth. Admission is free. "Mincarlo" is now owned by the Lydia Eva and Mincarlo Charitable Trust Ltd, a registered charity, which also owns the preserved herring drifter "Lydia Eva". As of January 2015 the "Mincarlo" is currently undergoing repairs and restoration. The work is being undertaken free of charge by Lowestoft-based AKD Engineering as part of their 60th anniversary celebrations.