Dutch Training Ship aground near Newhaven Newhaven's Arun was called out in a south-westerly gale on 21 October when the Dutch Training Ship Eendraht went aground off Newhaven as she was leaving the harbour.

The lifeboat was the first to arrive on scene at 0850 and was asked by the skipper if the 51 people on board could be evacuated- Despite very rough conditions on a lee shore coxswain Mike Beach was able to put the lifeboat between the casualty and the beach and made three attempts to take off the ship's crew. Eendrahtwas aground and listing to port and on one attempt the 200ft vessel was rolled on to the lifeboat damaging the bow roller and fender.

As a helicopter was now approaching it was considered safer for the crew to be airlifted to safety while the lifeboat stood by (see photo).

Some 40 people were taken off by the Coastguard helicopter and taken to a temporary shelter at the ferry terminal before it had to leave to refuel nearby. Its place was taken by a naval helicopter which took off the remaining trainees, the crew and finally the captain.

Meanwhile a tug had been called and had been able to put a messenger line aboard Eendraht. but this parted as the tug was also bumping on the shallows.The lifeboat then passed a tow line - by backing down to the casualty through the breakers, the size of which are obvious from the photographs - but the tug could not move the heavy training ship and the line parted. Eendraht had to be left hard aground until she could be pulled clear two days later..