New Year, old dangers for Dungeness RNLI.

This picture shows a lifeboat from the station sharply tilting in rough seas, with three-metre swells, in gale force winds.

Further away in the photograph, taken by Dungeness crew member Mark Richardson, is the motor fishing vessel the team had been called out to help.

The alert, on New Year’s Day, was the first for the team for 2016.

The crew was called at 2.10pm to help a 10-metre motor fishing vessel, nine miles off Dungeness Point, which had developed engine problems.

The Rye RNLI inshore lifeboat was also called out and it was found that the fishing boat, with one person on board, was able to slowly make its own way back to Rye at a speed of four knots.

Both RNLI lifeboats escorted the troubled vessel into Rye Harbour where it was safely moored.

Dungeness coxswain Roger Gillett said: “It was a sensible call, the casualty could have got into trouble as it had reduced power in rough seas. We were happy to escort it safely into the River Rother.”

Dungeness RNLI this time used the relief Shannon class Storm Rider.

Its regular vessel, The Morrell, is undergoing modifications.