Fenit, Co. Kerry. At 7.15 p.m. on 3ist January, 1966, the coxswain received a message that a ship on passage from Antwerp to Fenit had engine trouble off the Maheree islands in Tralee bay. The life-boat Hilton Briggs left her moorings at eight o'clock in a moderate to fresh south south easterly breeze and a moderate sea. It was two hours after low water.

The life-boat found the motor vessel Spurt of Amsterdam and took a tow line to her. The tow had to be cast off several times as the vessel was veering very badly because of the heavy swell, and eventually the life-boat secured alongside and steamed slowly to Fenit pier, arriving at midnight..