Bally cotton, Co. Cork. At 2.35 on the morning of the 27th of October, 1959, the honorary secretary received a telegram from Valentia radio station that the tanker Breeda J of Cork was aground in Cork harbour. He tele- phoned Cobh radio station and learnt that the tanker was ashore at Aghada on the eastern side of the harbour.

There was a rough sea, with a strong north-westerly gale blowing, which made it extremely difficult for the life- boat crew to board the life-boat Ethel May. She left her moorings at 3.30, when the tide was half ebb, and reached the position of the tanker at 5.30. The tanker was on a rocky beach.

The life-boat was unable to close her because of the shallow water and she anchored about three hundred yards off to await the flood tide. Radio contact was maintained with the tanker, and at high water, about 1.30 in the afternoon, the life-boat successfully towed the tanker into deep water. She escorted her to an anchorage off the Spit Bank light and later returned to her station, arriving at 6.15. Rewards to the crew, £34 5s. ; reward to the helper on shore, £1 6s..