Arduous service for two lifeboats called to Ro-Ro ferry in severe weatherCoxswain David Kennett of Yarmouth lifeboat has been awarded the Institution's Bronze medal for gallantry for the rescue of two men from a merchant vessel in winds gusting to hurricane force on 29 October 1989.

Coxswain Kennett already holds the RNLI's Silver medal.

Coxswain Christopher Haw of the Swanage lifeboat, which had earlier stood-by and also lent assistance while the men were taken off, has been awarded The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum.The Assistant Mechanic of the Yarmouth lifeboat, Brian Miskin, and Crew Member Joseph Lister will receive a framed letter of thanks from the Institution's Chairman and Second Coxswain David Lemonius and Crew Members Alan Howard, Stuart Pimm and Joseph Harwood will receive Medal Service Certificates.

Swanage lifeboat's Second Coxswain Nicholas Harris, Mechanic Michael Bonfield and Crew Members David Corben, Desmond Fitzgerald, Adrian Bird, Geoffrey Marsh and Paul Stockley will all receive Vellum Service Certificates.

Rolling The incident began when Swanage's relief lifeboat Horace Clarkson launched at 1056 to a cargo vessel in difficulties threeand- a-half miles east of Peveril Point in a SW severe gale Force 9 with rain squalls.

Using her VHF radio direction finder the lifeboat located the casualty and at 1131 began to stand by the vessel, now identified as Al Kwather I , a 495 tonne car ferry. She was listing to port and lying with both anchors down, rolling and pitching violently as she steamed ahead to keep head-to-sea. Her anchor cables were leading under the vessel and her cargo of cars was loose on deck.

The wind was SW Force 9 to 10 with very steep, breaking seas and a 20ft to 25ft swell.

The ship was unable to weigh anchor and head for shelter because of the danger to the crew from the loose cars on deck, and the motion of the vessel.

By 1257 the weather had deteriorated further with gusts of 88 knots, hurricane Force 12. Visibility was poor and the lifeboat was constantly shipping water and spray. Waves were now more than 30ft high, and one picked the lifeboat up and carried her broadside some distance before the coxswain regained control.

The Yarmouth lifeboat had been alerted earlier as it was clear that a lifeboat would need to stand-by for some time and it was decided that she should relieve Swanage from the gruelling task. At 1316 the relief Arunlifeboat Margaret Russell Fraser, on temporary duty at Yarrnouth, slipped her moorings and reached Christchurch Bay to meet a mass of breaking water and steep 20ft to 25ft seas throughout the passage to the casualty.

By 1510 she had taken up position astern of Al Kwather I, and Swanage lifeboat returned to station having been standing by for more than three-and-a-half hours, constantly awash and severely buffeting her crew.

Damage The coxswain remained at the wheel while Yarmouth lifeboat stood by, constantly adjusting engine controls and helm as he stemmed the seas. In spite of careful boat handling the lifeboat received some damage, including buckled windscreen wipers and a fractured bolt on the wheelhouse door.

An hour later the coxswain decided that the lifeboat should make for Swanage as the cargo vessel was not in imminent danger and the crew would be better prepared to carry out a rescue if they were able to recuperate.

Overnight accommodation was arrangedfor the Yarmouth crew in Swanage and some minor repairs were carried out.

However, at 0020 on 29 October both lifeboats were asked to stand-by again, and 20 minutes later Al Kwather I reported that she now had engine problems and asked that the crew be taken off. Both lifeboats put to sea and a helicopter was also alerted.

Although the wind had moderated slightly to westerly Force 9 to 10, there were still heavy breaking seas and a 25ft south-westerly swell.

As the faster Yarmouth lifeboat approached Al Kwather her searchlight showed the vessel listing to port, lying broadside to the seas and rolling violently. As the coxswain edged the lifeboat close to the vessel's stern, while the crew of the casualty decided how to abandon ship, the lifeboat crew could hear her cargo shifting as she rolled.

Stern Finally the vessel's crew decided to rig a cargo net over a stern door, and the coxswain closed in. Both vessels rolled violently and collided as he fought to hold position while ranging up and down the casualty's stern.

At last the lifeboat crew saw a erew member from A/ Kwather clamber onto the cargo net and virtually roll on to the lifeboat. He was helped aboard by crew members Lester and Miskin who had gone forward to haul the survivors aboard. The second survivor to disembark caught his foot in the net and fell below the level of the lifeboat's deck. Coxswain Kennett pulled the lifeboat astern and crew members Lester and Miskin hauled the man on board with total disregard for their own safety.

It then became known that a helicopter was on its way, so the remaining six crew members from the casualty decided to wait for its arrival. Yarmouth lifeboat took up a position to windward to act as a reference point and Swanage lifeboat, which had arrived 10 minutes after the Yarmouth lifeboat, moved to leeward to provide cover.

By 0212 the airlift of the six remaining crew members was completed and both lifeboats returned to their stations..