Fishing vessel founders THE FRENCH FISHING VESSEL Cite d'Aleth, in distress, was reported to the honorary secretary of Rosslare Harbour lifeboat station by MRCC Shannon at 0634 on Wednesday January 12. At first it was reported that Cite d'Aleth, her propeller fouled by a net, was six milesfrom Tuskar Rock Lighthouse; her bearing from the lighthouse, however, was not known. A later message said that the fishing vessel's bottom was fouled by nets and it was feared she had foundered. A gale, force 8, gusting to strong gale, force 9, was blowing from the south south west and the seas were very high. It was about two hours after high water.

Rosslare Harbour's 48ft 6in Solent lifeboat George Urie Scott, slipped her moorings at 0655 and set out on service under the command of Coxswain William Stafford. Leaving harbour she headed south west towards Tuskar Rock, some six miles distant, and started searching almost immediately.

All ships in the area were asked to help, as there was a very large area to search, and air cover was requested.

When MV Nosira Lin of London arrived her master agreed to act as 'on scene commander'. During the day a large numbers of ships and three Irish Air Corps helicopters joined the search.

At 1051 Rosslare lifeboat recovered a body from a perry buoy in the sea 3'/2 miles east of Tuskar Rock Lighthouse.

At 1510 the lifeboat requested permission to leave the search area for long enough to return to Rosslare Harbour to land the body, refuel and get dry clothes for the crew. She returned to sea having made two crew changes and taken on board two extra lifeboatmen.

Nosira Lin handed over command of the search to the Irish Naval vessel LE Grainne at 1700. At the same time the three Air Corps helicopters returned to base and a Sea King helicopter from RAF Brawdy joined the search; after an hour, however, this helicopter also returned to base because of poor visibility on this January evening. The lifeboat continued to search the area with a smaller number of ships until 2300 when she was recalled; returning to Rosslare soon after midnight, she was refuelled and back on her moorings at 0100 on Thursday January 13.The master of Nosira Lin passed on to the honorary secretary of Rosslare Harbour his great admiration for the work of Coxswain Stafford and his crew. The French Consul in Ireland visited the lifeboat station during the service to thank the crew for their efforts and, the following day, the Junior Minister for Fisheries spent an hour with the crew at Rosslare and thanked them on behalf of the Irish Government.

When, at 1100 on Thursday January 13, Arklow's 42ft Watson lifeboat William Taylor of Oldham launched on exercise, Coxswain Michael O'Brien asked if, as part of the exercise, they could search an area south east of Cahore Point as it was possible that a liferaft from Cite d'Aleth might have been carried that way by the south to south west winds. Cahore Point is some 20 miles north of Tuskar Rock. The honorary secretary agreed and the decision was welcomed by MRCC Shannon.

Arklow lifeboat searched throughout the remaining daylight hours, but without success, and finally returned to station at 1715.

Despite all the efforts made, no trace was found of the other fishermen from Cite d'Aleth.

For this service a letter signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, the director, expressing the Institution's appreciation to Coxswain William Stafford and his crew was sent to Rosslare Harbour station honorary secretary, Mr B. J. Miller..