The Athina B

[Robot Chicken]

Who remembers the Athina B when it beached on Brighton Beach? I just read this happened on 21st January 1980 when I was 6 and it stayed there a few weeks. I remember it very well, being taken down to the promenade with my sister in a pushchair. She's now 25 and married with 2 children.

God I feel old!

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Marvellous scenes.

But a heroic rescue effort by the Shoreham lifeboat crew.


The Story of The "Athina B"

At around breakfast time on the 21st January 1980 the Shoreham Harbour Offshore Lifeboat was called to the assistance of the 3,500 ton Greek registered vessel "The Athina B"

The ship, on route to Shoreham had encountered problems with her generator, gyro compass and radar whilst crossing the Bay of Biscay. Repairs were carried out at La Rochelle in France and the ship continued on her course towards Shoreham.

On arrival at Shoreham the vessel was forced to stand off due to the adverse weather conditions.

The captain found he was unable to maintain position and it soon emerged that the ship was drifting towards the harbour.
Realising his ship was now in serious danger the Captain asked for immediate assistance from the Coastguard.

By this time the ship had lost steerage and was on reduced engine power.

The Shoreham Lifeboat "The Dorothy and Philip Constant" skippered by Coxswain Ken Voice was immediately launched and almost straight away was able to evacuate the Captains wife and his two daughters from the vessel on the first run in.

By this time in deteriorating weather conditions the seas were extremely heavy.

On the second attempt a young French girl was rescued from the ship.

Damage was caused to the stern of the lifeboat when it was lifted almost onto the deck of The Athina B in mountainous seas.

The rescued French girl, suffering from hypothermia was taken to
Shoreham and transferred to an ambulance

The Lifeboat returned to the ship and eleven more crew members were taken off.

The tug "Meeching" was standing by but the Captain refused assistance all the time their was a chance he could bring his ship into Shoreham.

All that long day the Athina B survived the atrocious weather but towards the evening her position was west of Brighton Marina.

Low on fuel and in danger of running aground the Captain put out a "Mayday" call.

The Shoreham and Newhaven Lifeboats were launched.

Just after nine o'clock in the evening the Shoreham Lifeboat was able to come alongside the ship which by now had run aground.

In almost total darkness and heavy surf Coxswain Ken Voice brought the lifeboat alongside and ten seamen jumped from the vessel onto the deck of the Lifeboat, throwing cases of clothes before them that rained down onto the lifeboat crew!

Crew member Peter Huxtable. "One thing still vivid in my mind is all those suitcases being thrown at us".

One seaman lost his footing and fell into the sea. He was promptly grabbed by the lifeboat crew and pulled inboard.

With all remaining survivors onboard, the Athina B was left to the mercy of the shore and the surf.

A plaque on the seafront at Brighton marks the spot where this amazing story was finally brought to a close.

The Lifeboat crew members on that day were recorded as

Ken Voice Coxswain
Ken Everard 2nd Coxswain
Jack Silverson Lifeboat Mechanic
Michael Fox 2nd Mechanic

Crew Members

John( Ginger) Landale
Peter Huxtable
Geoff Tugwell
Peter Everard
Derek Silverson

In total 25 persons were successfully taken off "The Athina B" in appalling weather conditions.

Shoreham Lifeboat Coxswain Ken Voice was awarded the R.N.L.I. Silver Medal

Ken Everard, Jack Silverson, Michael Fox, Geoff Tugwell, John Landale and Peter Huxtable were awarded the R.N.L.I.'s Thanks of the Institution on Vellum.

Peter Everard and Derek Silverson received letters of thanks signed by the director of the R.N.L.I.

The "Athina B", her back broken, was written off

She was eventually re-floated and towed away for scrap

 

[Robot Chicken]

The "Athina B", her back broken, was written off

She was eventually re-floated and towed away for scrap

Leaving her anchor behind

 

[desprateseagull]

if only it cane ashore about a hundred metres west
(for the palace pier to be hit), or a mile, for the west pier...

... how history could have changed!

 

[Robot Chicken]

I was always under the mistaken impression that it had hit the West Pier!

 

[Lord Bracknell]

No. The West Pier was badly damaged by a barge which broke loose during some maintenance work in the early seventies.

 

[GNF on Tour]

We were all quite shocked and concerned at the time. Then we found out it was French and we all had a good laugh.

 

[magoo]

Who remembers the Athina B when it beached on Brighton Beach? I just read this happened on 21st January 1980 when I was 6 and it stayed there a few weeks.

I was 6 aswell!

 

[ditchy]

Didnt the barge hit the palace pier.. remember all those silver domes from the amusement rides being washed up on the beach.. ..this marked the end of the landing stage at the pier and its eventual demolition ..Shame as it was a good place to fish as a kid

 

[ripper]

I remember being taken down there with the school to have a look.

 

[Rowdey]

* Hand raises slowly at the back of the class, and Rowdey says 'Er thats mine Sir....'* (middle left one anyway..)

My 5 seconds of of NSC fame has come about....

Went down there with parents (I was 9..) and camera, and rattled off a few pics..pretty sure it was with my Kodak EKTRA 110 if anyone remembers them....

Dad knew some one at the Argus and done a swift deal, with 'Little Rowdey' getting a cheque for nominal amount and 'Dads mate' got the kudos and credit...somethings never change at the Argus eh..?

 

[Spiros]

Iwas 15 and lived on Shoreham Beach at the time. Whenever we heard that the lifeboat was going out we used to race down to the harbour to watch what was going on - usually in time to see the lifeboat disappear into the distance. On this occasion we had a grandstand view of absolute chaos. The lifeboat was bobbing about like a toy and the waves were huge. How they actually managed to get people off was beyond belief. Most people would have had trouble keeping their breakfast down..

 

[Locky]

I was 20, I remember going down to watch them pull it from the beach..........................It was really foggy and you could hardly see anything.................one minute it was there .............the next it was gone.

 

[Rambo]

Is the chip shop in station road still named after it?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Odd that nobody's yet mentioned the grand finale. When the Athena B was finally moved off the beach, it was towed away to be broken up for scrap metal - up the River Medway to Gillingham.

 

[Beach Hut]

Is the chip shop in station road still named after it?

Correct

 

[Willow]

* Hand raises slowly at the back of the class, and Rowdey says 'Er thats mine Sir....'* (middle left one anyway..)

Top snapping, mate. Best picture out of the four.

 

[Jambo Seagull]

I can remember having to go to school one Sunday for Chapel which we had to do once a term. I walked down to the Old Steine from my school in Eastern Road to get a bus and the traffic on the Old Steine was unbelievable! Complete gridlock all the way up London Road! It really wasn't that much to see!