LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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The S.S. Ben Olliver

JANUARY 5 T H . - SHOREHAM HARBOUR, SUSSEX. Shortly before midnight the coastguard reported that a vessel wasmaking distress signals off Worthing. A light northerly wind was blowing, with a slight swell. The motor life-boat Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn was launched at 12.20 A.M. on the 5th and found the S.S. Ben Olliver, of London, laden with crude oil and bound from Southampton to London. She had gone aground. With the life-boat’s help she refloated at 3.45 A.M., but she came off very suddenly and before the life-boat could get clear, the steamer had damaged her rudder. The life-boat escorted the steamer to within a mile of Shoreham Harbour and then lost her in fog. The steamer anchored and the life-boat returned to her station at 5.30 P.M. - Property salvage case.