LIFE-BOAT STANDS BY DUTCH VESSEL AGROUND Margate, Kent. At 5.31 on the morning of the 16th April, 1962, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the motor vessel Viscount of Groningen needed help. Her position was not established, but her master thought he could see the Tongue lightvessel.

Just before the life-boat North Foreland (Civil Service No. 11) was launched at 5.50 the coastguard reported that the vessel was ashore on the east end of Margate Sands about three miles north of Margate. There was a strong eastnorth- easterly wind and a very rough sea. It was low water. Because of the state of the tide the life-boat had to sail round the north-east spit of the sands to reach the Viscount. On rounding the sands, the coxswain saw a helicopter hovering over the vessel, and at 6.45 the life-boat reached the Viscount. The coxswain was told that there were no casualties on board and that attempts would be made to refloat the vessel on her own engines. The life-boat stood by, and the master of the Viscount learnt that a tug was putting out from Dover to help. The tug was not in fact needed, as the Viscount eventually refloated under her own power, and after her master had thanked the life-boat crew for standing by the vessel continued on her passage. The life-boat reached Margate at 9.30 and was moored alongside the quay, as weather conditions prevented her from being rehoused until the next day..