Walmer, Kent. At 2.12 on the morn- ing of the 8th December, 1961, the coastguard informed the honorary sec- retary that a vessel appeared to be aground a mile and a half north-west of the East Goodwin lightvessel. The vessel had made no distress signals, but as she was in a dangerous position the life- boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No.

32) was launched at 2.35. There was a varying southerly wind of near gale force, and it was two and a half hours before low water. The life-boat reached the stranded tanker Thorsheimer of Sandefjord shortly after four o'clock.

She guided a number of tugs through shallow water and helped to secure hawsers, but the tanker did not refloat on the first high tide. The tug masters decided not to make an attempt on the night tide and the life-boat returned to her station, which she reached at 10.45.

The next morning she left at 8.40 to stand by the Thorsheimer while further attempts were made to refloat the tanker.

These were successful, and the life-boat finally reached her station at 12.15..