As waves crashed across its bow and gale force winds whipped its masts, the MS Athina-B’s engines failed just outside of Shoreham harbour on January 20, 1980.

The crew issued a mayday and the Shoreham-based lifeboat Dorothy and Philip Constance took the call – ferrying the panicked crew back and forth as they evacuated the stricken vessel.

Ken Voice, the lifeboat’s coxswain, said: “It was a miracle no one was killed. We must have had lady luck with us, and no mistake.”

Once all the crew were saved, the near 3,500 tonne merchant ship drifted into the darkness and come first light it re-emerged, perched precariously on the shingle at Brighton Beach.

The Greek ship, carrying 3,000 tons of pumice, narrowly missed the Palace Pier and tore a hole in its hull on a concrete groyne.

The listing wreck suddenly became one of Brighton’s biggest tourist attractions as thousands flocked to the see the startling sight of the giant vessel sitting in the surf.

Parties of schoolchildren from all over were taken on day trips, artists arrived to capture the spectacular scene and the Volk’s Electric Railway opened out of season to cash in on the eager sightseers.

The boom was short-lived though and eventually the Athina-B was refloated and towed away for salvage.

An estimated 30,000 people |gathered and looked on as the |shipwreck was wrenched free on February 21.

A Salvation Army band attended the scene and played Land of Hope and Glory as the ship disappeared – taken to Rainham salvage yard.

Coxwain Voice was awarded an RNLI Silver Medal for his efforts in rescuing the Athina-B’s crew on that fateful night and the rest of his crew were also commended.

The wreck is immortalised on Brighton seafront with the ship’s anchor taking pride of place along the parade.

The ship is also remembered by a restaurant in Portslade, whose sign above the door reads simply – Athnia-B.

A painting of the ship by Dennis Roxby Bott also hangs in The Brighton Museum.