TRAWLER DRIFTING At 6.17 a.m. on 3rd March, 1965, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the Aberdeen trawler Ben Arthur was dragging her anchor and drifting on to the shore at Goat Islands in Stornoway Harbour, and that her engines were broken down. At 6.40 the life-boat The Rankin on temporary duty at the station, was launched in a very rough sea.

There was a storm blowing from the south west, and the tide was ebbing. The trawler Marwood also of Aberdeen, which was standing by, was passed a towline twice but it parted on both occasions. The skipper asked the life-boat to take the towline and after several attempts the life-boat secured a line from the stern of the Ben Arthur and held her to windward whilst her anchor was being weighed.

The life-boat towed the Ben Arthur to Esplanade Quay, where she was safely moored. The life-boat returned to her station at 9.50 a.m..