Tow by tug IN VERY BAD WEATHER on the evening of Thursday December 9, 1982, the 500 ton coaster MV Andoni suffered engine failure and anchored 2Vz miles south of Shoreham Harbour. She was seen by Coxswain Kenneth Everard of Shoreham Harbour lifeboat and reported to Shoreham Coastguard. The Coastguard could not make contact with Andoni by radio but a visual watch was kept.

At 2100 Andoni was seen to be drifting eastwards. Five minutes later the Coastguard made VHP radio contact with her, and the coaster asked for immediate tug assistance. The Newhaven tug Meeching was alerted and also Newhaven lifeboat.

Newhaven's 44ft Waveney lifeboat Louis Marchesi of Round Table slipped her moorings at 2110 and left harbour under the command of Coxswain/ Mechanic Leonard Patten. By now Andoni was six miles west of Newhaven and l'/2 miles south of the Palace Pier, Brighton. A south-westerly strong gale, force 9, was gusting up to violent storm force 11, with severe rain squalls. It was about 23/4 hours after high water, so, with wind against tide, the seas were very rough and confused with 10 to 15 feet waves. Shoreham's 37ft 6in Rother lifeboat The Davys Family was launched at 2136 under the command of Coxswain Everard and rendezvoused with Newhaven lifeboat at 2210 to stand by. The tug Meeching, under the command of her master, Robert Domin, arrived at 2236; she tried several times to pass a tow to Andoni by rocket line, but without success.

As the coaster was now only l'/2 miles south of Ovingdean and in danger of going ashore, the master of Meeching manoeuvred close under her bows to pass the tow by heaving line. During this operation Meeching was struck several times by the casualty. The tow was passed but unfortunately, when the weight was taken up, Meeching's tow hook broke. The whole operation was then repeated using a towing bridle.

The tow was finally connected at 2358 by which time Andoni was dangerously close to going ashore at Old Nore, a mile west of Newhaven.

While standing by in the very rough seas, one of Shoreham lifeboat crew fell and sustained a head injury. At 0036 on Friday December 10 Shoreham lifeboat headed for Newhaven where an ambulance was waiting for her injured crew member. After he and another lifeboatman had been landed and three more of her crew members had been taken on board, Shoreham lifeboat returned to sea to stand by.

By 0155 Meeching, with Andoni in tow, was in safe water three miles offshore and the two lifeboats were stood down. Newhaven lifeboat was back on her moorings at 0231 and Shoreham lifeboat was back on station and rehoused by 0455.

Meeching kept Andoni in tow all night until 0810, when Newhaven lifeboat once again put to sea to escort the tug and casualty into Newhaven Harbour.

At 0910 Andoni was berthed alongside and at 0935 the lifeboat was on station and ready for service.

Later that day Coxswain Everard of Shoreham wrote to Captain A. S. Flint of the Port Offices, Newhaven, to express the admiration of himself and his crew to the master and crew of Meeching on their courage and tenacity in establishing the tow between the tug and Andoni. He wrote: 'The lifeboat radar positioned the ship seven cables from the cliffs with the sounder showing an average depth of sixfathoms - not the best places with an onshore wind gusting eleven!' For this service a letter of appreciation signed by Rear Admiral W. J.

Graham, director of the Institution, was sent to Robert K. Domin, master of the tug Meeching, and his crew. Letters of appreciation signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, were sent to Coxswain/Mechanic Leonard Patten and his crew of Newhaven and Coxswain Kenneth Everard and his crew of Shoreham..