Collision A COLLISION IN DENSE FOG between MV Futurity and the motorboat Little Slam some three miles south east of Littlehampton was reported to the honorary secretary of Shoreham Harbour lifeboat station at 1510 on Saturday May 12, 1979. Shoreham's 42ft Watson lifeboat Dorothy and Philip Constant launched at 1522 under the command of Coxswain Kenneth Voice. It was four hours after high water, the sea was very calm but visibility was only about 50 yards.

While on her way to the position given, the lifeboat was told by the Coastguard that Futurity had picked up four survivors but that other people were still missing. Littlehampton Atlantic 21 ILB launched at 1600and at 1605.

as there were other fishing vessels in the area helping with the search, the Coastguard asked Coxswain Voice to assume the office of on scene commander.

At about 1622 the lifeboat made radio contact with Futurity, who gave her position as 33A miles south south east of Littlehampton piers; she was all stopped and drifting with the tide. Two minutes later the lifeboat radar suddenly stopped tracing the land mass.

There was, however, just one verysmall trace on the screen. On investigation, Coxswain Voice found that this trace was in fact Futurity. By 1640 the lifeboat could hear the motor vessel's siren and at 1648 she was coming alongside. The four survivors were taken off and it was learned that Little Slam, which had been out with a fishing party, had sunk; five people, including her skipper, were still missing.

Littlehampton ILB had also arrived on scene. The four survivors were transferred to the Atlantic 21 and at 1805, after considerable difficulty, were landed on the beach into the care of the Coastguard; they were taken to hospital for a medical check. The ILB then relaunched and returned to the search.

It was agreed that Coxswain Voice should board Futurity so that, using her radar, he could continue to act as on scene commander. As the motor vessel's master estimated that he had drifted about a mile west from the point of collision, Coxswain Voice decided to continue the search to westwards until low water. Futurity was having difficulty steering at the slow speed, so she dropped anchor one cable south of Winter Buoy while Coxswain Voice continued to co-ordinate the extensive search being made by Shoreham lifeboat, now in the charge of Second Coxswain Kenneth Everard, and fishing vessels Jungfrau and John Seagull.

At about this time, MV Sand Swan, some five miles south south east of the search area, offered her help. Coxswain Voice directed Sand Swan and the three smaller boats to a rendezvous south west of the collision position.

When all four vessels had met, he asked Sand Swan to position the small boats each side of her, about a cable apart, and conduct a search on a course of 055°, the estimated set of the tide at that time.

On the search down tide, three bodies were recovered by Jungfrau and one by Shoreham lifeboat; all were put aboard the lifeboat. Lifebuoys and other wreckage from Little Slam were picked up but one person was still missing.

By 2040, however, in addition to the dense fog it was getting dark quickly and the search had to be called off until daylight.

Littlehampton ILB, which had been back to base once to refuel during the evening, helped John Seagull to find three other fishing boats and then returned to her station. By 2145 she was rehoused and ready for service.

As the offshore lifeboat was six miles east north east of Futurity, and as Sand Swan was bound for Shoreham and could escort the lifeboat with her radar, it was decided that rather than go back for her coxswain, Second Coxswain Everard should take her straight back to station. Coxswain Voice was put ashore at Littlehampton by Jungfrau and returned to Shoreham by car in time to meet the lifeboat on her arrival at about 2345.The fog was still very thick and, as another call might well come during the night, it was arranged through HQ that the Decca engineer should come from Newhaven at once to repair the lifeboat's radar. It was working again by 0230 and the lifeboat was rehoused and once again ready for service by 0245.

A further extensive search was made the next morning for the missing man, but without success.

For this service a letter of appreciation signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, was sent to Coxswain Kenneth Voice and his crew..