Passenger ferry loses steering in storm Following an eight-hour night service to a passenger ferry in storm force winds and 35ft seas - said to be the worst conditions seen in the area for several years and causing the local harbour to be closed - coxswain Walter McPhee of Wick lifeboat has been awarded the Thanksof the RNLI Inscribed on Vellum for his high standard of leadership and seamanship.

Second coxswain James Begg, mechanic John Martin, assistant mechanic Alexander Durrand and crew members Ian Cormack, Mark Cormack, William Simpson, Harry Hourston and Donald Rosie have been awarded Vellum service certificates.

At 0008 on Tuesday 5 March 1991 Wick's deputy launching authority was alerted that the P&O ferry St Rognvald with 19 peopleon board had suffered storm damage and was without compass or steering some two miles SE of Duncansby Head.

Full speed At 0027, the Tyne dassNorman Salveson launched from her slipway and proceeded on service at full speed with coxswain Walter McPhee at the helm.

The wind had been blowing from the east for several days and was now ESE Force 8-9. A confused, broken sea in Wick Bay averaged 18ft high. The sky was overcast with heavy rain squalls, reducing visibility to less than a mile.

The casualty was detected by radar at six miles range and the lifeboat was alongside by 0111.

The ferry was rolling heavily, shipping heavy seas and spray.

She was making about 12 knots but circling to port and the crew were mustered on the afterdeck.

With the wind now at Force 10, the seas were some 35ft high.

Radio communication was severely limited as the ferry had only a portable VHP handset still serviceable.

At 0115 a rescue helicopter arrived to winch survivors off the ferry and the lifeboat stood by astern in case of accidents. However, by 0207 only four men had been lifted off St Rognvald because of the extreme conditions, and the helicopter had to return to Lossiemouth to collect new 'highlines', since those she was carrying had all been broken.

As the ferry drifted dangerously closer to the shore, coxswain McPhee advised the casualty to drop anchor.

Fortunately emergency steering was gained first and coxswain McPhee was able to guide the ferry away from land by issuing helm orders by radio.

With the arrival of another rescue helicopter at 0255. a further ten survivors were lifted off.

Assistance Coxswain McPhee continued to assist the ferry to steer offshore until a relief master arrived and a new compass was rigged. With the assistance of the tug Einer which arrived shortly after 0600 the lifeboat escorted the ferry toSinclair Bay, where she was anchored at 0730.

At 0817, the master decided that the lifeboat was no longer required.

She was moored, refuelled and ready for service once more by 0920.

In his official report, Mr Les Vipond, divisional inspector of lifeboats for Scotland south, paid tribute to coxswain McPhee whose local knowledge 'was invaluable in guiding the casualty to a safe anchorage.'.