FOR a joint service to a sand dredger Coxswain Derek Scott, of the Mumbles life-boat, has been awarded the bronze medal of the Institution, and Helmsman Lindsey S. Knipe and crew members James Lock and Richard A. Comley, of the Porthcawl IRB, have been awarded a framed letter of thanks, signed by the Chairman of the Institution, Admiral Sir Wilfrid Woods, G.B.E., K.C.B., D.s.o.

The remaining crew of the Mumbles life-boat have been accorded vellum service certificates for their part in the service. Seven men were rescued from the dredger.

It was learnt at 0007 hrs. on 3rd October, 1968, that the dredger Steepholm was aground on the Tusker Rock near Porthcawl. Eight minutes later the maroons were fired, and at 0025 hrs. the reserve life-boat Cunard, which is a 45-foot 6-inch Watson type and was on temporary duty at the station, was launched.

RADAR AID The wind was west south west, force 5, and the weather was squally with visibility between one and two miles. As the life-boat made for the Kenfig buoy, visibility was further reduced. A small coastal tanker, the Grovedale H, which had just left Swansea, contacted the life-boat by R/T and offered to accompany her and to assist by using her radar. This help proved invaluable Meanwhile, at about 0135 hrs., the honorary secretary of the Porthcawl IRB,Mr. J. K. Blundell, whose crew had been standing by since 0032 hrs., overheard a message from the Steepholm which indicated that the crew had taken to the life-rafts and that at least one raft was adrift.

Mr. Blundell, who knows the local waters well, estimated that the Mumbles life-boat was still some 20 minutes away and considered that the life-raft could well be in trouble. Despite the weather conditions and darkness he decided to launch the IRB.

At 0138 hrs. the IRB was launched and made for the Tusker Rock at slow speed. The sea was rough with a force 5 wind gusting to force 7.

DIFFICULTY WITH R/T While the IRB was on her way to the dredger the Mumbles life-boat was experiencing considerable difficulty with R/T communications, and it was not until 0210 hrs. that Coxswain Scott learnt from a message relayed by the Grovedale H that the crew were in the life-rafts, drifting towards the shore, and that the master was still aboard the casualty.

By this time the life-boat was off the Tusker buoy and the coxswain, estimating that the rafts could by now be well to the north east, altered course towards the Ogmore River to intercept them before they got into trouble in the broken water off the entrance.

At 0215 hrs. the life-boat sighted the rafts roped together, and the coxswain headed to leeward to pick up the survivors. As the Mumbles life-boat closed the two rafts, Porthcawl IRB also arrived and was able to assist by holding the rafts alongside while the six survivors were hauled aboard the life-boat.

By about 0220 hrs. the survivors were in the life-boat, and the coxswain headed for the lee side of the wreck to take off the master. Porthcawl IRB, unable to work in the broken water over the Tusker Rock, stood by clear of the wreck.

Parachute flares were fired at about 0230 hrs. and by their light it was seen that the Steepholm was down by the head with her foredeck well awash and with heavy seas breaking over the superstructure. The life-boat's searchlight picked out the master on the wing of the bridge.

As there was a rise and fall of between 10 to 15 feet alongside, the coxswain decided against trying to get a line aboard. Instead he put the bow of the lifeboat in over the well-deck just forward of the bridge. As the life-boat touched, the master signalled that he was not ready to jump, and the life-boat backed away. The life-boat was then brought in again further aft with her starboard bow alongside.

GRABBED JUST IN TIME By this time the master had come down on to the next deck, and as soon as the bow of the life-boat ranged alongside he jumped. At the same instant the lifeboat was caught by a heavy sea and crashed down on the gunwale, the master falling between the wreck and the life-boat abreast the life-boat's anchor.

Luckily Second Coxswain William H. Davies and Crewman J. Whitford were able to grab him before he went into the water, and the coxswain, seeing what had happened, ordered full astern on both engines. Despite this action the lifeboat's bows again ranged against the side of the wreck, but luckily the shoulder stayed clear, and the master was then hauled aboard unhurt.

At 0238 hrs. the Mumbles life-boat and the Porthcawl IRB left the scene and the tanker Grovedale H resumed her passage. The IRB reached her station at 0259 hrs., and the life-boat, after landing the survivors at Swansea, arrived back at her station at 0545 hrs. and was rehoused at 0630 hrs..