ABSTRACT
When a vessel is grounded intentionally she is said to be beached. If she is grounded accidentally she is stranded. A vessel is usually beached when she is damaged to such an extent that the pumps are unable to cope with the rate of flooding. There is therefore always an interval of time, however short, during which the action of beaching can be considered. Even if an emergency exists, the beaching can still often be controlled, and hence the problem of refloating the ship may resolve itself more easily than in the case of a stranded vessel. This is provided the person executing the manœuvre selects his beach, and method of approach, with a view to subsequent refloating. The wise seaman, however, will waste little time in considering such problems if danger of foundering is imminent.
