Dutch coaster A DUTCH COASTER Diana V, in distress 101° 74 miles from Spurn Head, was reported to Superintendent Coxswain Brian Sevan of Humber lifeboat station by HM Coastguard at 1400 on December 30, 1978; her cargo of maize had shifted in rough seas near Well Bank. At 1410 the 54ft Arun lifeboat City of Bradford IV slipped her moorings.

On clearing the river she encountered very heavy seas whipped up by a strong easterly gale and visibility was reduced to 100 yards by heavy snow showers. The tide was two hours flood.

At 1419 HMS Lindisfarne reported that she was 20 miles north west of Diana V and heading for her.

Meanwhile, Cromer lifeboat had been put on stand by and at 1451, the 46ft 9in Watson relief lifeboat William Gammon, Manchester and District XXX, on temporary duty at Cromer, launched on service to give extra cover.

At 1559, Humber lifeboat was driving at full speed into the head seas, and had covered 25 miles from Spurn Point, when she suddenly lost speed; an oil pipe supplying the starboard engine was found to be fractured. Knowing that Cromer lifeboat was on her way, that HMS Lindisfarne was now in company with Diana V and that the situation on board the coaster was improving.

Coxswain Bevan decided to return to Grimsby for emergency repairs.

During the return passage Motor Mechanic Barry 'Bill' Sayers and Assistant Mechanic Ronald Sayers, who are brothers, working in a confined space in the engine room of the violently moving lifeboat, managed to strip down the pump in preparation for fitting a replacement pipe; arrangements had been made with the shore for repairs.

HMS Lindisfarne had assumed on scene command and at 1700 she reduced the distress signal to urgency.

Diana V was able to get under way at 9 knots for Humber, escorted by Lindisfarne.

At 1730 Cromer lifeboatreported she was returning, heading for Great Yarmouth as, in the rough seas prevailing, she could not have been rehoused at Cromer. She reached harbour at 2250.

On Humber lifeboat's arrival at Grimsby at 1845 a suitable piece of pipe was located. It was found, however, that, because of the heavy swell, if repairs were to be made in harbour the lifeboat would have to lock in to the Fish Dock—and then might be locked in and thus off service until 0400.

Rather than that, Coxswain Bevan decided that the repair should be made in the river and asked the dock master to open the pen. Despite the heavy swell breaking on the dock gates, City of Bradford IV was penned out without damage at 2030 and 'dodged' down river and towards Spurn to refuel while the mechanics made the repairs.

At 2045 Lindisfarne reported that conditions had become worse and that Diana V was taking water. Helicopter help had been requested (a USAF helicopter arrived on scene at 0030 but had to return to base because of the weather). Humber lifeboat informed the Coastguard that she was taking on fuel and would complete her repairs shortly. By 2136 she was once more on her way to the casualty, ETA two hours.

Diana V was now 097° 28 miles from Spurn Point.

The lifeboat was heading almost directly into the 25ft short, steep seas at full speed and taking a terrific pounding, at times taking off and crashing down into the next wave. At 2235, when still eight miles from the casualty, she crashed down from an exceptionally large sea and all lighting, window wipers and fans failed. Crew Member Dennis Bailey, Jnr, was thrown against the wheelhouse bulkhead, injuring hisright eye, knee and elbow. Speed was reduced to ten knots to give the mechanics a chance to find the fault and restore the lighting.

Before repairs could be made, Lindisfarne reported that the lifeboat was now urgently needed to take off Diana V's four crew and two women and asked Humber lifeboat to make best speed to join her. Coxswain Bevan increased speed to full and briefed his crew to prepare to go alongside using only the two hand torches.

Humber lifeboat arrived on scene at 2301 and prepared to go alongside Diana V which was steering down sea on an erratic course at 5 knots with a heavy list to port. The lifeboat crew found that both the inflatable dinghy and liferaft had broken loose from their fastenings. They lashed them down and then fendered the starboard bow. With the wind now gusting to 56 knots, storm force 10, and the -4°c temperature freezing the sea water to deck and rails, moving about on deck was very difficult.

Coxswain Bevan instructed the master of Diana V to have his crew on his port quarter ready to jump and Lindisfarne illuminated the coaster with her searchlight. All the lifeboat's crew except for the two mechanics fastened their lifelines to the rails forward. Just as Coxswain Bevan edged the lifeboat in to Diana V's port quarter a breaking sea hit the stern of the casualty, almost washing her crew off the deck; the two vessels were thrown together, part of the lifeboat's rubbing strake being ripped away and her anchor stowage moved aft. Her engines were put full astern as her bows were then some ten feet above Diana V's deck.

After making sure that the crew were all ready, a second approach was made. This time a heavy sea struck the lifeboat's starboard quarter, crashing her starboard bow against the coaster; a fender exploded with a very loud bang and more rubbing strake was torn away. The engines were again put full astern to clear the casualty's stern which, as she heeled over, was only three feet away from the coxswain in the upper steering position on the flying bridge.

On the third run in, as the lifeboat's bow hit the casualty some five feet below where her people were waiting, a 12-year-old girl was dropped into the arms of the lifeboat crew and, as the lifeboat rose up the coaster's side, the other woman and four men jumped aboard, the crew breaking their fall.

The engines were again put full astern to avoid being 'laid over' by Diana V.

The survivors, wet, cold and suffering from shock, were taken below and cared for while the lifeboat took station on Diana V's port quarter; her captain, his crew safe, had decided to try to save his ship. With only her fo'csle and bridge visible most of the time as seas broke clear across her hatches, and escorted by HMS Lindisfarne andHumber lifeboat, Diana V headed for the River Humber 20 miles ahead. The river was safely entered at 0145. At 0200, when in smooth water, a pilot boarded and Humber lifeboat returned to Spurn Point and the waiting ambulances.

The lifeboat was refuelled and returned to her moorings, reporting ready for service at 0345 after 133/4 hours on service.

For this service the silver medal was awarded to Superintendent Coxswain Brian W. Bevan. The thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Second Coxswain Dennis Bailey, Motor Mechanic Barry 'Bill' Sayers, Assistant Mechanic Ronald Sayers and Crew Members Michael B.

Storey, Peter Jordan and Dennis Bailey, Jnr. A framed letter of thanks signed by Major-General Ralph Farrant, chairman of the Institution, was sent to the commanding officer of HMS Lindisfarne, Lt-Cdr A. J. C. Morrow, RN, and a letter signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, was sent to J. J. Smith, honorary seretary of Cromer lifeboat station, expressing the Institution's appreciation to Coxswain Richard Davies and his crew..