Longhope, Orkney.—At 4.28 on the morning of the 4th of July, 1957, the coastguard telephoned to say the steam trawler Girdleness, of Aberdeen, was aground one mile west of Cantick Head lighthouse. At 4.50 the life- boat Thomas McCunn was launched in calm weather. There was dense fog and the tide was ebbing. The life-boat reached the position at 5.21 and soon afterwards the tug Metinda arrived. The coxswain decided to stand by the Girdleness until high water, which was at four o'clock in the afternoon, when attempts would be made by the tug to refloat the trawler.

These attempts were unsuccessful, and as the weather was very calm and thetrawler in no danger, the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at five o'clock. As further attempts to refloat the Girdleness were to be made at the next high tide at four o'clock the next morning, the life-boat was launched again at 3.40. She stood by while another unsuccessful attempt was made to refloat the trawler and reached her station again at 6.10 on the evening of the 5th of July. The Girdleness eventually refloated two days later.—Rewards: first service, rewards to the crew, £23 17s.; rewards to the helpers on the shore, £4 4,s.

Second service, rewards to the crew, £27 Is.; rewards to the helpers on shore, £4 6s..