Jack-up barge AN 'ADVISE LAUNCH' from HM Coastguard was received by the honorary secretary of Falmouth lifeboat station at 2128 on Monday, November 28, 1977, to take off the six-man crew of the jack-up barge Mer d'Iroise, in tow of the tug Englishman about 11 miles east of the Lizard. The tow was on passage from Le Havre to the Menai Strait and the tugmaster had become concerned for the stability of the oblong-shaped jack-up barge under the existing weather conditions; it had four legs extending 70 feet above deck level, one at each corner.

At 2145 the 50ft Thames class relief lifeboat Rotary Service, on temporary duty at Falmouth, slipped from her moorings with Coxswain Arthur West in command.

The wind was north east near gale to gale, force 7 to 8, visibility was good and the tide was at half ebb.

Lizard Coastguard could now see the lights of the casualty and Falmouth Coastguard gave the lifeboat an interception course of 170°M.

The lifeboat set course at her full speed of 17 knots and VHP communication on Channel 16 was established between the casualty and the lifeboat at about 2155. Lights and radar contacts were picked up soon afterwards, about nine miles ahead, and the tugmaster eventually reported that he could see the lifeboat's blue flashing light. There being more than two vessels ahead of the lifeboat, and Coxswain West not being certain of which heading the tow was now on, the tug was requested to identify herself by illumination, which she duly did. After being once misled by the lights of another vessel, the lifeboat was eventually able to home in on the tow and make rendezvous with the barge at 2230 about eight miles east of the Lizard.

The tow was making about 5 to 6 knots on a south west heading, the tugmaster being unwilling to expose the barge to a beam sea while her crew were still on board as it was feared she might then capsize.

The barge was roughly 110ft long by 70ft wide, and her four legs extended 40feet below the surface as well as 70 feet above, although this fact was not known to the lifeboat at the time. The heavy following seas were breaking over the stern of the barge so that her decks were awash.

Coxswain West took the lifeboat around the stern of the tow and came in on her port side amidships. The barge was pitching quite heavily so that her legs were moving through an arc of about 30 degrees. She was also yawing considerably, and keeping the lifeboat held fast alongside was a difficult task of co-ordination complicated still further by the lifeboat's frequent tendency to surf in the following seas.

The casualty's crew were all wearing lifejackets and ready to abandon. The lifeboat crew waited for the appropriate moments and then told them when to jump. Each man was safely pulled aboard in turn by the lifeboat crew in an operation lasting a number of minutes without either damage to the lifeboat or injury to any of the six evacuees. In the prevailing wind and sea conditions, with the barge pitching, rolling and yawing quite dangerously, this was a considerable feat of seamanship and determination.

Transfer of the men to the tug was considered but it was decided that itwould be too hazardous to attempt.

The lifeboat therefore returned with them to Falmouth and the tug with her tow waited off Falmouth to pick them up again next day.

The barge crew all were landed at Falmouth at midnight and one sick man was transferred to hospital. The lifeboat returned to her mooring at 0024.

For this service the bronze medal has been awarded to Coxswain Arthur C.

West and medal service certificates have been presented to Assistant Mechanic Ronald F. Twydle and Crew Members J. H. Mitchell, R. Prynn, R.

Andrew and A. Barnes..