WHEN the 61,000 ton Liberian tanker Torrey Canyon went aground on the Seven Stones on the 18th March, 1967, two life-boats were called out. Both spent many hours at sea.

The first report to reach a life-boat station came at 9.17 on the morning of 18th March, when the coastguard informed the St. Mary's, Scilly Islands, honorary secretary, Dr. W. D. Bell, that the tanker was aground and needed help immediately. The maroons were fired at 9.25, and three minutes later the life-boat, Guy and Clare Hunter, which is one of the 46-foot g-inch Watson type, was launched. There was a force 4 north-westerly breeze with a slight to moderate sea. Visibility was good and it was one hour after high water.

Once clear of the island Coxswain Matthew Lethbridge set course for the Seven Stones, and about 10.35 tne life-boat arrived off the casualty. Coxswain Lethbridge estimated that the tanker was on Pollard Rock and took the life- boat along her starboard side to discover what the master intended to do. After a few minutes the life-boat Jay off, and sent a radio message to the coastguard stating that she would stand by and that the tanker's master was awaiting the arrival of tugs.

Contact between the life-boat, the Torrey Canyon, and the tug Utrecht, which was approaching the tanker, was established by very high frequency radio telephone. About 12.10 the life-boat took two men from the tug and put them aboard the tanker, Coxswain Lethbridge bringing the life-boat alongside the main deck of the tanker on the starboard side. About 1.30 the Torrey Canyon began to discharge oil, and the life-boat stood off clear to windward.

At 2.25 the life-boat sent a radio message that the oil was spreading, that the tanker had taken a list to starboard and that she was unlikely to refloat. The Utrecht made repeated attempts to get a line aboard until 9,20, when operations were discontinued. The life-boat therefore stood by close to windward through- out the night.

SEVERE LIST At 6.57 on the morning of 19th March the life-boat signalled that the Torrey Canyon now had a severe list, that her starboard deck was awash and she was down by the head. The wind continued north westerly, strength 4 to 5, and there was a corresponding sea.

At 8.6 the master of the Torrey Canyon asked the life-boat to transfer fourteen men and their gear to the Trinity House tender Stella, which was also standingby. The life-boat went alongside, took the men and their gear off the starboard side of the tanker and transferred them to the tender.

The life-boat continued to stand by, and the Utrecht did succeed in getting a line aboard, but when the slack was taken up the line parted. The wind strength- ened to force 6, and about 12.30 p.m. it veered to the north north west. The Torrey Canyon began to yaw about 5° either side of her original heading. The master then asked the life-boat to take off eighteen more men.

About 12.50 Coxswain Lethbridge brought the life-boat alongside the star- board main deck of the Torrey Canyon as the heavy list prevented the use of the port side. Conditions were rapidly growing worse, and although the sea was not breaking because of the thick covering of oil the swell built up to a height of some 12 to 15 feet. The life-boat was made fast fore and aft alongside the tanker, and as she ranged heavily her port fender was damaged. At times she was lifted to the level of the tanker's main deck rails, and the coxswain continually used helm and engines to maintain position.

One at a time eight men jumped aboard the life-boat as she rose to the tanker's main deck. The ninth man misjudged his jump and fell into the sea, and Coxswain Lethbridge ordered the life-boat full astern to avoid crushing him.

The man managed to grab the life-boat's outside life-line and was recovered through the use of the scrambling net. He was taken below, wrapped in a blanket and treated for shock. An officer from the Utrecht, who was on the deck of the Torrey Canyon at the time, later reported that but for the prompt action and good seamanship of the coxswain the man would have been crushed between the tanker and the life-boat.

RELIEF LIFE-BOAT At 1.6 the life-boat signalled she had taken off nine of the tanker's crew but that the remainder preferred to wait for a helicopter. At 2.4 a helicopter took off five men, and seven minutes later a second helicopter took off four more and landed them on the Scilly Isles. There were still six men on board the tanker.

These were the master, three of her crew, and two officers from the tug. Cox- swain Lethbridge therefore decided to continue to stand by until he was relieved.

The district inspector of life-boats, Lieutenant P. F. Gladwin, R.N.R., had been in constant touch with the whole operation and he had arranged for the Penlee life-boat to relieve the St. Mary's boat at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. The Penlee life-boat, Solomon Browne, which is one of the 4y-foot Watson type, was launched at 2 p.m. She reached the tanker about 4.50 and the St. Mary's life- boat returned to her station, which she reached at 6.35. The Penlee life-boat stood by the tanker throughout that night and most of the next day. She was relieved by the St. Mary's boat at 5 p.m. on 20th March and reached her station at 8 p.m.

Once again the St. Mary's life-boat stood by all night, and at 7.15 on the morning of 21st March she left to return to her station as weather conditions were now such that helicopters could give adequate cover during daylight hours.Dr. Bell and the honorary secretary of the Penlee station, Mr. D. L. Johnson, were advised that the life-boats would not be needed unless the weather deterior- ated.

At 12.20 p.m. on 21st March the St. Mary's coastguard informed Dr. Bell that the Torrey Canyon was on fire aft and advised him to launch. The life-boat put out at 12.30, with Dr. Bell, who is honorary medical adviser as well as honorary secretary, accompanying the crew. At 1.12 she received a radio message that everyone had been taken off the tanker, but Coxswain Lethbridge decided to close the casualty. At 1.55 it was confirmed that all those who had remained with the Torrey Canyon were now on board a tug en route for Penzance, and the St. Mary's life-boat therefore returned to her station, which she finally reached at 3.20 p.m.

The St. Mary's life-boat had been at sea for a total of 54 hours and the Penlee boat for 30 hours. A letter of appreciation signed by the Chairman of the R.N.L.I., Captain the Hon. V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N., was sent to Coxswain Lethbridge and the crew of the St. Mary's boat. Additional monetary awards were made to the members of both crews.

Following the service carried out by the St. Mary's life-boat to the tanker Torrey Canyon, whose subsequent loss was described as the most expensive of its kind in maritime history, her crew left the sum of £31 1s. to cover the cost of making and erecting a plaque in the life-boat house to commemorate the service.

The plaque will be worded: 'Following the grounding of the tanker Torrey Canyon on the Seven Stones on the 18th March, 1967, members of the crew who were landed at St. Mary's thank the Life-boat Institution and Hugh Town community for their assistance and very kind hospitality.'