STEAMER AND MOTOR VESSEL IN COLLISION Dover, and Walmer, Kent. At 12.13 early on the morning of the 8th January, 1962, the coastguard informed the Dover honorary secretary that a collision had taken place between two vessels, the s.s. Sabac and the m.v.

Dorington Court six miles east-by-south of the eastern arm of Dover harbour.

There was a light westerly wind and a smooth sea. It was foggy. The Walmer honorary secretary was also informed at 12.17. The Dover life-boat Cunard, on temporary duty at the station, left her moorings at 12.32, and the Walmer life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No. 32) was launched at 12.31. It was high water. When the Dover life-boat reached the position several vessels were in the area and had picked up survivors, some of whom were badly injured. Because of bad visibility parachute flares were used during the search, and the Dover life-boat picked up four bodies. By this time the Walmer lifeboat had also reached the scene, and she extended her area of search towards the East Goodwin lightvessel.

One body was picked up and this was later transferred to the Dover life-boat.

Thick fog hampered the search, in which a Shackleton aircraft and a helicopter also took part.

The Dover life-boat returned to her station at 12.30 to land the five bodies, and after refuelling she returned to the area to continue the search. Meanwhile the Irish coaster City of Cork had reported by radio to the Walmer lifeboat that a number of bodies could be seen almost two and a half miles southeast of the South Goodwin lightvessel.

The life-boat made for this position and picked up seven bodies, which she landed at Dover. She reached her station at 4.30. No more bodies were found by the Dover life-boat, and she also reached her station at 4.30. The owners of the Sabac made a donation to the Institution's funds and gifts to both life-boat crews..