Ramsgate, and Dover, Kent. — At 11.55 on the morning of the 23rd of March, 1951, a ship was seen off Rams- gate flying a signal asking for a pilot.

The coastguard reported that she had been stationary for nearly two hours.

As the weather was too bad for a shore- boat to put out, the Ramsgate life-boat Prudential embarked a -pilot and left her moorings at 12.11. The sea was very rough, with a moderate westerly gale blowing, as she came up with the S.S. Helfrid, of Helsingborg, bound for Dover, near the North-west Good- win buoy. She put the pilot aboard; and he reported that the steamer had boiler trouble, needing immediate re- pairs. However, the master decided to make for Sheerness and the life-boat stayed with her until she reached a safe position. Meanwhile at 1.32 the Sandgate coastguard had telephoned the Dover life-boat authorities; and at 1.55 the life-boat Southern Africa was launched. But as the Helfrid had made for Sheerness she was recalled at once, reaching her moorings again at 2.0. The Ramsgate life-boat arrived back at her station again at 3.25.— Rewards, Ramsgate, £14 4s.; Dover, £7 5s..