WATCH: 57 years since Guernsey RNLI's heroic rescue of 9 onboard stricken ship

The official RNLI Twitter account shared an informative video outlining the challenges the crew faced as they battled heavy seas and icy conditions for over 15 hours to rescue everyone on board.

In less than 20 hours it received more than 3,500 views.

'With ice forming on their windscreen, in a storm-force gale infused with snow flurries, the crew of St Peter Port arrived to a dramatic sight,' the video caption described.

'Two hours earlier, the Johan Collett had called for aid after their cargo had shifted.

'And the 1995 tonne merchant ship had started listing [when one side of the ship is damaged and water enters compartments in that side, then the ship lists to that side].

'In heavy seas, the Euphosyne Kendal was unable to communicate directly, but eventually the message to take three casualties was received.

'Using a lap signal relay with a South African Navy vessel, [the Guernsey RNLI crew's] first approach was marred by a loose crane.

'But showing incredible skill, coxswain Hubert Petit successfully secured the three crew on the following approaches.

'But their work wasn't over.

'A French tug, the Abielle 10, arrived at 10.41pm and - despite a tow being established after nearly an hour and a half - the worsening conditions meant the call to abandon ship had to be made and the six remaining crew aboard the Johan Collett would have to jump from their stricken ship to the lifeboat.

'On the final run the master jumped and fell on the outside of the guardrail, but three members of the lifeboat's crew dragged him onboard and the return journey could begin.

'At 6.45am they arrived safely back at St Peter Port, 15 hours after launching, without any loss of life.'

Looking back at Guernsey Press articles from the time, it was reported that the call for assistance came in around 3.15pm on 5 February 1963 when the zinc ore cargo in the 3,000-tonne freighter shifted.

The 36-year-old captain Leif Moan told the reporter how he and the crew were very glad to see the lifeboat. He said they did a good job and it was a difficult and dangerous on for them to do.

The ship was bound from Sardinia to Ghent was about 13 miles off Les Hanois when the cargo shifted and gave the vessel a list of 35 to 40 degrees.

It was said to all have gone wrong within the space of about five minutes.

'In order to reduce the ship's crew, 13 men were lowered in a ship's lifeboat and were later picked up by the ship Bonnard,' it was reported.

'Then a further three members of the crew were taken off by a small boat from the Kaupanger, a Norwegian tanker.

'The rest of the crew, including the captain, the chief engineer, a third officer, the bosun, the motorman and able seamen and other hands eventually jumped on board the lifeboat.'

Now, the Johan Collett lies abandoned in 102 meters of water.