Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.—At 1.40 on the afternoon of the 7th of January, 1954, the Needles coastguard tele- phoned that the motor vessel Berend N., of Delfzijl, had sent a distress message five miles south-east of the Needles. At 1.54 the life-boat S.G.E.

put to sea. The sea was choppy, with a strong north-easterly breeze blowing.

The life-boat found the vessel with aheavy list and her starboard side awash. A frigate was standing by her. The life-boat wirelessed for a tug and pumping gear, and then stood by the Berend N., which was still making way. The Berend N. beached a quarter of a mile east of Hurst Castle, and a tug arrived. The tug could not come close enough and the life-boat transferred a pilot from the Berend N. to her for a conference with the tug skipper. She then took the pilot back to the vessel and returned to her station, arriving at 5.50. The managers of the Berend N.

made a donation to the funds of the Institution.—Rewards, £10 10s..