Newhaven: The Greek MV Georgios of Pireaus sent out a 'mayday' signal on the morning of Thursday January 13 reporting a severe list; she was about 14 miles south of Beachy Head. Winds from west north west were gusting up to near gale, force 7, and the sea was rough with a heavy swell when Newhaven's 44ft Waveney lifeboat Louis Marches! of Round Table slipped her moorings and headed for the casualty under the command of Coxswain/Mechanic Leonard Patten. A number of other vessels and helicopters from RAF Mansion and HMS Invincible were standing by. While the Sealink ferry Senlac made a temporary lee, Newhaven lifeboat, in eight approaches, took off six o/Georgio's crew, her master and engineer remaining aboard. The six men were later lifted off the lifeboat by the RAF helicopter and put ashore and Georgios was escorted by the lifeboat and the tug Typhoon to a sheltered anchorage off Newhaven. After standing by for a further hour to make sure all was well, Newhaven lifeboat returned to station at about 1430 to refuel, remaining on stand by until 1620..