Aground on Goodwins REPORTS OF SHIP'S LIGHTS in the vicinity of East Goodwin Buoy were passed to the honorary secretary of Walmer lifeboat station by Dover Straits Coastguard at 2130 on Saturday December 10, 1977. The East Goodwin Lightvessel crew had given the best information available but no radio or accurate visual contact had been established.

After further discussion it was agreed that the lifeboat should launch to investigate before the weather deteriorated further and while the state of the tide allowed her passage over shoal areas. Maroons were fired at 2248.

The wind was south south east, strong breeze to near gale, force 6 to 7, increasing, with steep, high seas and heavy rain. Visibility was poor. Predicted high water Dover was 2237.

At 2258 Walmer's 37ft 6in Rother lifeboat The Hampshire Rose launched on service. She immediately had to reduce speed in the heavy seas. Course was laid for Deal Bank Buoy and East Goodwin Lightvessel until Coxswain/ Mechanic Bruce Brown could use his radar and echo sounder to navigate Kellet Gut. Within 15 minutes, however, the radar developed an intermittent fault and Dover Straits Coastguard was asked for radar plot information. Visibility was reduced to about quarter of a mile in horizontal driving rain and, as the lifeboat entered the gut at 2320, heavy confused seas were breaking over the boat making both navigation and handling extremely difficult.

Regular radar positions were passed by the Coastguard as Coxswain Brown worked north east along the southern shoal edge of Kellet Gut. With the echo sounder recording erratically in the violent movement of the boat, he found that he had to use at least two-thirds throttle to gain safe steerage way, but in only eight feet of water he took the boat south of the two wrecks until he sighted a large cargo vessel which appeared fast on the sands, head south.

Coxswain Brown steered along thewest side of the vessel, thence east and north to come up under her stern to assess the situation. After the lifeboat had flashed her searchlight and fired a parachute flare crew members came to the rail of the casualty but no radio contact could be established.

The casualty had a list to starboard and was anchored. Heavy seas were breaking over her well decks from the weather side and running in on the lee side from both bow and stern, making the lee side an area of heavy broken water with waves building on top of each other in an unpredictable pattern.

A pilot ladder was lowered from the starboard well deck forward and Coxswain Brown indicated that he would try to put a man aboard.

A first approach was made to check the relative heights of the vessels and the water movement alongside, after which the boat was taken astern before closing for a boarding attempt. Coxswain Brown found that by keeping one crew member as stern lookout he could hope to lie reasonably in between seas for a few seconds, and although this attempt failed because the lifeboat was too far from the ladder he again went astern and made a third approach.

Anxious lest the lifeboat be driven against the ship's side, Coxswain Brown approached on the back of a sea which was met by another from ahead, stopping the boat and allowing Second Coxswain Cyril Williams time to grab the ladder and be helped aboard. Cyril Williams and three ship's crew were immediately caught on deck by a heavy sea and washed into the port bulwark before gaining the safety of the bridge structure. Coxswain Brown drove the lifeboat ahead and circled the ship to lie astern.

Communication on VHP channel 16 was now established by Second Coxswain Williams on the ship's equipment and the Coastguard and lifeboat were advised that the 4,847 gross ton Greek cargo ship Elmela was laden, bound for Angola from Rotterdam, with a crew of 25. The master declined offers to order tugs or evacuate the crew; he said that the ship's main generator fault would be repaired shortly.

Since the tide was now ebbing below the level of the surrounding banks, sea conditions eased a little, although the wind was still gusting 60 knots. Coxswain Brown was having to stem the seas in the gut as he did not wish to go far from the casualty until the situation was clarified.

About 0330 it was agreed with the Coastguard and the honorary secretary of Ramsgate lifeboat station that Ramsgate lifeboat should launch to stand by so that Walmer lifeboat could return to station to refuel. Accordingly at 0405 Ramsgate's 44ft Waveney lifeboat Ralph and Joy Swann launched on service.

She arrived on the scene at 0459 and after agreeing that Elmela was firmly settled until the next rising tide, Walmer lifeboat left for station at 0505.

Coxswain/Mechanic Ronald Cannon of Ramsgate took soundings around the stern of Elmela—the forward area was now drying sand—to confirm his available sea room if needed, and then put Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic Derek Pegden and Crew Member Anthony Read aboard to help Second Coxswain Williams. Ramsgate lifeboat then lay in Kellet Gut in rapidly moderating conditions.

At 0610 Second Coxswain Williams reported that there was up to three feet of water in Elmela's No. 2 hold, with the ship's pumps just holding the flow, but half an hour later he asked for immediate close attendance of lifeboats following ominous sounds of the vesselbreaking up. The Coastguard scrambled the RAF helicopter from Mansion.

Walmer lifeboat turned back from a position near Deal Bank Buoy, but at 0700 she resumed her course to station after the master had assured Second Coxswain Williams that the noise was only cracking steam pipes. He reiterated his intention of keeping all crew aboard. Walmer lifeboat beached at 0715 and was refuelled, re-launching at 0845; only one crew change was made.

The Hampshire Rose was back on the scene by 0911.

In rapidly moderating wind, now south force 4 to 5, and easing seas, the situation aboard the casualty was being organised by the three lifeboatmen, Crew Member Read, a Trinity House pilot launch coxswain, taking command of the bridge. A line was run from the ship's bow to Ramsgate lifeboat, lying off to the north east. At 0915 the vessel began to move on the rising tide and the delicate operation was started of turning her without allowing her to drop back astern on to the northern edge of Kellet Gut. The windlass was operating at single speed only and the anchor was got in slowly as the main engines were put slow ahead and Ramsgate lifeboat steamed to the north east.

By 0945 the casualty was clear of the shoal area and tanks were sounded.

Then, escorted by Ramsgate lifeboat she made her way to Margate Roads, anchoring there at 1121 for a surveyor's inspection. Ramsgate lifeboat returned to station at 1215 and was refuelled and ready for service at 1241.

Walmer lifeboat had taken Second Coxswain Williams aboard again by 1000. She also returned to station, being refuelled and ready for service at 1230.

For this service framed letters of thanks signed by Major-General Farrant, chairman of the Institution, were sent to Coxswain/Mechanic Bruce Brown and Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic Cyril Williams of Walmer lifeboat. Letters of thanks signed by Captain Nigel Dixon, director, were sent to Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic Derek Pegden and Crew Member Anthony Read of Ramsgate..