Eight men plucked from fishing vesselCoxswain Albert Sutherland of the Fraserburgh lifeboat City of Edinburgh has been awarded the thanks of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution inscribed on vellum following a service in which the lifeboat rescued eight men and saved their 74ft fishing vessel in a gale and pitch darkness on 13 January 1989.In his official report Mr Les Vipond, divisional inspector of lifeboats for Scotland North, praised Coxswain Albert Sutherland for his high standard of seamanship during this difficult service.

Certificates For their part in the rescue vellum service certificates have been awarded to Second Coxswain James Sutherland, Mechanic Thomas Summers, Assistant Mechanic Charles Duthie, and Crew Members Alan Smith and Victor Sutherland.

The 47ft Tyne class lifeboat launched at 1645 on Friday, 13 January 1989 after Moray Coastguard had reported the fishing vessel Mystic taking in water and in need of help three miles north of Fraserburgh harbour.

Near the harbour the wind was Force 7 from the south, and created only a slight sea and low swell as some protection was afforded by the land.

Visibility was good but the sky was overcast and the night very dark. The casualty could not be seen, but Coxswain Sutherland picked her up on his radar and directionfinder and steered towards her. The skipper reported that his vessel was listing badly and his crew were taking to the liferaft.

At 1655 the lifeboat approached the fishing vessel with the wind now Force 8, gusting 9, and against a 2 knot tide, producing a rough sea and an 8ft swell. The 74ft trawler lay stopped across the wind and tide, down by the head, with a severe list to port, and rolling heavily.

Equipment A liferaft was secured to the starboard quarter, with seven men in it, and the skipper was trying to release the painter.

The coxswain manoeuvred around the casualty's stern, avoiding the liferaft and fishing equipment, and came alongside the after end of the trawler's shelter. The skipperskipper was helped aboard the lifeboat and the coxswain immediately came clear of the casualty.

The liferaft was now clear of the fishing vessel, so Coxswain Sutherland put the lifeboat on the leeward side of the raft, and each time it was lifted by a swell a survivor was helped aboard the lifeboat.

When all the survivors were safe the lifeboat crew manhandled the liferaft onto the after deckhouse, and the coxswain headed for Fraserburgh harbour where she secured at 1706, passing the survivors and the liferaft into the care of the Fisherman's Association.

Tow After the men were landed the coxswain and the skipper of the fishing vessel realised that the trawler was quite likely not to sink, and at 1716 the lifeboat cast off and headed back to the casualty.

Three attempts were needed to put two men aboard the trawler - the skipper of Mystic and Second Coxswain James Sutherland (brother of the coxswain) - so that a tow could be passed and secured.

Progress with the tow was slow, never more than three knots, as the heavily laden fishing vessel dived into the swell. Some shelter was found as the lifeboat approached the harbour, but despite this the tow parted as the lifeboat and trawler approached the entrance although it was soon reconnected..