Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk - At 4.22 p.m. on igth March, 1966, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the tug Placard of London, anchored four miles off Yarmouth, required help. At 4.40 the life-boat Louise Stephens was launched in a gentle breeze from the north east and a slight sea. It was three hours after low water. While the life-boat was on her way a helicopter winched a man down to the casualty and he was informed that the services of a tug were required. When the life-boat reached the Placard the coxswain informed her master that the tug was in a bad position and offered to take her in tow until the tug arrived. His offer was accepted and four of the life-boat crew went aboard the casualty to help. The Placard was taken in tow and handed over at 7.30 to the tug Hector Read. The life-boat stood by and at eight o'clock was asked by the master of the Hector Read to assist with the towage.

The life-boat reached her station at 10.3..