ROUGH SEA FACED IRB SAVE A drilling rig with men aboard off Hunterston was reported in trouble on 10th March. As assistance was required, the honorary secretary instructed the IRB at Largs, Ayrshire, to launch.

She launched at 12.50 p.m. with John Harrison at the helm and Robert Watson and Ian Mackie as crew. There was a north easterly gale with a short steep sea.

Once clear of the slip John Harrison headed straight for the rig at full speed, but once clear of the shelter of the land the sea conditions worsened and he was only able to proceed at about half speed for the rest of the distance.

The IRB arrived off the rig at about 13.10 and John Harrison saw that the rig was really a pontoon which was moored at each corner and was moving violently at times with seas breaking over it. He could also hear the pontoon grinding down on the broken drill pipe which was still underneath the rig. A launch was still fast alongside the lee side of the pontoon and John Harrison took the IRB round the south side andcame up alongside the launch on the first attempt.

As the IRB came up to the launch Ian Mackie jumped aboard and then went aboard the rig where there were six men sheltering (five drilling team and the launch boatman).

Because of the weather it was decided that it would not be possible to move the launch and that it would be best to take the men ashore in the IRB in two runs. While John Harrison and Robert Watson kept the IRB alongside using the painter and engines, Ian Mackie helped three men aboard. One of these men was not wearing a life-jacket and was reluctant to get into the IRB so Ian Mackie took off his own lifejacket and put it on the man and volunteered to stay on the rig until the IRB returned.

The IRB then left the rig and headed down wind to Hunterston jetty where, after some difficulty because of projecting scaffolding, Robert Watson managed to get ashore and help the three men up a ladder on to the jetty. The IRB then headed back against the wind to the rig.

While the IRB was away Ian Mackie managed to talk to the shore control, using the R/T aboard the rig. The contractors ashore were reluctant to leave the launch, but the boatman who was a young man standing in for, the proper coxswain, was not prepared to take the launch in because of the weather. After Ian Mackie had explained the position, it was agreed that all men should be brought ashore by the IRB.

However, when the IRB returned the weather conditions were slightly better and Robert Watson volunteered to take the launch in if the launch hand would work the engines.

This was agreed and the other two men from the rig then went aboard the launch as well and Ian Mackie returned to the IRB.

Robert Watson then let go and headed the launch back at slow speed towards Fairlie, with the IRB as escort. The launch was tied up at Fairlie pier, about 2.30, without difficulty and the three men from the rig went ashore.

Framed letters of thanks, signed by the Institution's Chairman, were awarded to: John Harrison, helmsman, and Robert Wratson and Ian Mackie, crew members..