Small tanker AT 2135 ON Friday January 9 Hartland Coastguard asked Clovelly lifeboat to stand by ready to launch to go to the help of a small tanker, MV Pass of Dirriemore, laden with chemicals. She was disabled with mechanical failure midway between Hartland Point and Lundy Island and drifting south. There were 12 people on board.

The request to launch came at 2207 and by 2218 Clovelly lifeboat, the 71ft Clyde City of Bristol, had slipped her moorings and, under the command of Staff Coxswain Roger Smith, set course to intercept the tanker, now nearly five miles west north west of Hartland Point.

It was a squally night with a gale, force 8, gusting to strong gale, force 9, blowing from north north west. The seas were rough.

When City of Bristol reached Pass of Dirriemore the tanker was about five miles west of Hartland and Coxswain Smith checked the set and rate of her drift; she was being carried at 2 knots parallel to the coastline. Arrangements were made for a tug to come from Milford Haven as soon as possible; her expected time of arrival was 0530.

By 0045 on January 10 the tanker was about 61/: miles south west by west of Hartland Point, but as the strength of the tide decreased the wind began to have relatively greater effect, driving the disabled vessel towards the coastline.

At 0145 her master was told that he had about an hour and a half beforehe would ground and he was advised to anchor.

A quarter of an hour later Pass of Dirriemore had dropped her anchor some seven miles south west of Hartland, and it held. By 0300 the wind had gone round to north by west and risen to strong gale, force 9.

City of Bristol continued to stand by.

She checked the tanker's position every quarter of an hour until the tug, Glen Garth, arrived at 0600, and then gave help by passing the tow. By 0800 the tow was attached. Pass of Dirriemore weighed anchor at 0830, Glen Garth began the tow to Milford Haven and the lifeboat was released.

While she had been standing by Pass of Dirriemore, City of Bristol, had herself experienced some electrical and mechanical troubles. Assistant Fleet Mechanic Anthony Dixon with the help of another crew member tried to make the necessary repairs at sea under the very difficult conditions, but, as the strong gale, now from north north west, had not abated, it was decided at 1200 to make for the shelter of Swansea Bay. City of Bristol anchored in Port Talbot Roads to complete her repairs at 1630.

For this service a letter of appreciation signed by Rear Admiral W. J.

Graham, director of the Institution, was sent to Staff Coxswain Roger Smith and his crew..