DUTCH CREW AIDED At 8.35 p.m. on 5th December, 1964, Valentia radio station told the honorary secretary that the Dutch motor vessel Karel had grounded on Mutton Island, near Galway docks. The life-boat Mabel Marion Thompson left her moorings at 9.15 in a strong south-westerly wind and a rough sea. The tide was ebbing. The life-boat reached the stranded vessel, which had a crew of 10, at 12.20 a.m. As it was low water there was no immediate danger. At 1.30 the Karel's captain asked for the help of some fishing boats to try and tow his vessel off. The life-boat left for Galway docks and returned with a harbour launch and a fishing trawler. A line was passed but this parted. As the wind was now gale force, with a very rough sea, the trawler and harbour launch returned to harbour. Between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. the wind increased to force 9 with heavy rain squalls and thsKarel reported four to five feet of water in her holds but her engine room was dry. At 8.30 the weather improved. As there was no possibility of the life-boat approaching the Dutch motor vessel on the falling tide she put into Galway docks but returned to the Karel at 11 a.m. Her captain asked that four of his crew be taken to Galway. The life-boat returned once more to the docks for a small boat to ferry the men from Mutton Island to the life-boat. This took them to Galway where they arrived at 1.30 p.m. The small boat capsized once and was slightly damaged. At 5.30 the lifeboat returned to the motor vessel and was told that there was no immediate danger.

A tug had been summoned and the lifeboat put back to Galway at 7 p.m. and remained there overnight. The tug arrived at the vessel at noon the following day and the life-boat returned to her station at 3 p.m. The life-boat put to sea on 8th December at 6 p.m. to stand by the Karel because the tug had left to seek shelter from the bad weather, but the lifeboat's services were not required..